Advanced Change Theory Essay

655 Words2 Pages

Advanced Change Theory (ACT) is based on ten principles. The theory challenges many traditional ways of implementing change by encouraging leaders to examine themselves internally and build an empowered community through trust, respect and freedom of communication (Quinn, Spreitzer, & Brown, 2000). Traditional change models employ tactics such as logical persuasion in which data driven logic attempts to convince followers of the personal benefits of change. This strategy is called empirical-rational strategy. Power-coercive strategy uses leverage and the threat of discipline to enforce obedience to a proposed change. While ACT may employ some components of these strategies, it is a complex abstract model which requires personal development and a willingness to …show more content…

The leader of change must be willing to make uncomfortable adjustments internally and the leader must be willing to engage in activities that may put oneself at risk. The first six principles emphasize these points while the remaining four focus on the engagement of the rest of the community or group. Employing an ACT model first requires the desire to change a current system with the ultimate goal being an emergence of a community which is inclusive, open, and fosters personal development. This requires the leader to move from a position of self-interest and into a mind-set that is concerned with the greater good. According to ACT, in order to effectively accomplish this, the leader must be willing to first change internally by exhibiting the desired behavior of the rest of the group, challenging the status quo, and developing a shared vision that is beneficial to all. According to Quinn et al., (2000) the sixth principle encourages the leader to “take action to the edge of chaos” (p.153). This principle encourages unconventional actions and believes that chaos in a complex system will produce its own sense of order (Quinn et al.,

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