Analysing ‘change’ – the reality for institutionally based projects

Create-SSBR Institutional Innovation Online Conference12th November 2009Afternoon Session, 2.15pm to 3.45pm

Purpose• An opportunity to discuss how innovation and

change are linked.

• Explore where projects reside within ongoing (institutional and wider) change processes

• How much and much agency do you have?

innovation = change … changing thinking, changing practice

change = adaptation to new circumstances … change is always happening

change = an active, purposeful and distributed process

Why change?

• Economic recovery and public funding• Quality and reputation management (including

governance)• Global responsiveness• Social mobility, equality, democracy

Resistance

• Kotter and Schlesinger (1979) set out the six change approaches to deal with resistance to change:– Education and Communication – Participation and Involvement – Facilitation and Support – Negotiation and Agreement – Manipulation and Co-option – Explicit and Implicit Coercion

Common discourse

• Moving from agreement to cooperation: Christensen suggests two major driving forces – – SUCCESS – building on successful

practice/activities– A COMMON LANGUAGE - leading to a common

framing of the problem

Questions

Two themes for discussion (15-20 minutes):

1. What are the major forces driving change within and across institutions?

2. Should projects identify and tackle resistance and if so how?

Five outputs

Consensus on (25 minutes):

1. what is the ‘unit of change’ i.e. individual, group, project, department, institution, other?

2. who are the top three change agents?

3. one major barrier to change

4. one key activity to drive or enable change from a project perspective

5. which to prioritise: changing thinking or changing practice?

Breakout Groups

• Breakout group 1: Mixed projects (facilitated by Steve & Mitul)• Breakout group 2: Mixed projects (facilitated by Josie & Jenny)• Breakout group 3: Mixed projects (facilitated by Paul & Rhonda)• Breakout group 4: Lifelong Learning and Workforce Development

(facilitated by Ruth, George, Patsy and Ellen)

45 minutes in moderated breakout rooms:

Return to main room for plenary session: 20 minutes