I
read a book called Our Iceberg is Melting by John Kotter which it is a fable
featuring with penguins. In particular, those penguins are living on an iceberg
with a strong belief that “Our Iceberg will never melt” and there is a possible
threat to those penguins observed by a common penguin called Fred. The whole
fable is about how they went through to change that threat by applying eight
step process of successful change:
Create a sense of urgency: In order to deal with
stone-headed and conservative penguins to see what has happened on the ice berg
and how urgent it was, Fred came up with the idea of using a model and
presented to others with the help of Alice who firstly believed what Fred
observed.
Pull
together the guiding team: A
team of five members was formed up by Louis, Head Penguin, in order to
emphasize on urgency and find out solutions.
Develop
the change vision and strategy: The
team met with a seagull and thought of the alternative solution for the colony,
however, it was totally a different life styles of penguins to become nomad
colony as they did not used to so that it would be a big change for them.
Communicate for
understanding and buy-In: Since
the team had made up their minds for nomad colony solutions, it became a big
step for them to make the colony realize as there were many penguins who still
did not believe them. The team used creative ways such as posters to communicate with those
penguins.
Empower others to act: After communicating, they attempted to
encourage others to be part of them and participate in reaching to the
solution.
Produce Short-Term Wins: Then, they accomplished their short-term
goal by getting participation from some penguins and it would lead to other
left penguins to join with them.
Don't let up: When the colony had moved to other ice
berg, they become not like they used to be living in one place for a long time as
they would be always looking for better places for the colony.
Create a new culture: It became their new culture moving for
better living conditions and they would like to keep doing so in future as
well.
I feel like it is really a great exemplary to
see through what an organization like and how to move to change an
organization. It could be said that there is no main character in that fable,
all the five members in the team are characters and they possess different potential
and skills to lead to a change. It is also highlighted the possible supportive
and opposing character which would both delay and push to a change. Anyway, the
team does change the culture of the colony.
Could we assume that it is Culture Revolution? Culture Evolution? And what culture do
the team change would it be Dominant
culture? Or Subculture?
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