The Change Formula
Posted by Felix Enescu on August 24th, 2006
The Change Formula has been stated in a variety of ways by several writers on change. One of these writers, Michael Beer, in “Organizational Change and Development” expressed it as follows:
“The difficulty of creating readiness for change, may be thought of in terms of the cost of changing to organizational members. Change will occur only when these costs are outweighed by a number of factors which can create positive motivation to change. This relationship between positive forces which support change, and the cost of change, may be expressed in the following change formula.
Ch = D x M x P > C
Where:
Ch = Change
D = Dissatisfaction with the status quo
M = A new model for managing or organizing
P = A planned process for managing change
C = Cost of change to individuals and groups
The article presents another view on the change. One should take care of “vision”, “process”, and “discomfort”. I personally prefer the process view: “unfroze-move-refroze”. It allows me to view the change as a living process to as a “frozen” formula.