Question

Weick and Quinn (1999) consider there to be two primary categories of organization change: episodic and continuous.

Question

a. Describe their definition of episodic change and their description of continuous change.

b. Provide real-life examples, one each, of episodic change and continuous change with rationale.

Answer 1

Continuous change is a process of collaborative efforts of employees working at all levels of the organization. Generally, it can be understand as bottom up approach. Any major or radical change will be taken place with detail discussion and suggestions from various organizational stakeholders. It is more sustainable change within organization. People here cooperate the organization to achieve desired goals and outcomes over the period of time. Here , organic structure and learning interventions can be seen as more emphasized one. For example, Microsoft has created its own structure and sustaining model of change in corporate practices. It has never compromises with quality and ethical standards. This is primary reason behind its long term success.

Episodic change can be seen and understand just opposite to this organic model of organizational development. In this , leadership seeks aggression in attaining goals of business. Here , sustainability issues and ethical standards gets lesser importance. People only give higher importance to work achievements and lack of collaborative efforts may be identified.

Example, Organizations like Walmart, Alibaba, Samsung etc. can be analyzed under episodic categories. Nokia failure can also be analyzed as episod based change management . It fails to address concerns of different stakeholders.