Transforming Organizations

In a world where current political climates and management cultures make risk aversion commonplace, Transforming Organizations shows how all organizations, including large and cumbersome institutions, can transform to suit the needs of our rapidly evolving economic and social realities. This book looks at how organizations and their leaders can adapt to an increasingly volatile and uncertain operating environment through the 4Cs: Creativity Critical reflection Communication Collaboration Based on extensive research in the education, organizational and business sectors, Michael Anderson and Miranda Jefferson show how the 4Cs can be embedded, embodied and enacted in many different types of organizations to make them more responsive to emerging challenges, threats and opportunities. Transforming Organizations highlights clear links between leading and learning - because leadership is no longer (if it ever was) just a role for CEOs, CFOs and senior managers. For organizations to be flexible and agile in the 21st century, all employees must have the opportunity to exercise leadership. But this can only happen if deep learning is a standard feature of a leadership approach that actively and deliberately incorporates key 21st-century skills - the 4Cs themselves. There is a substantial gap between companies knowing what they should do to be flexible, creative and have clear channels of communication, and how to make that a reality. Transforming Organizations provides the evidence and inspiration necessary for doing business differently. Written for those who have become disillusioned or frustrated with business practices that cannot meet the fast-moving demands of the 21st century, the book provides strategies and approaches developed from the authors' work in real organizations in order to implement change and see organizations transform for the better.