Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is the role of schemata in the sensemaking process described?
What is the role of schemata in the sensemaking process described?
Schemata serve as frameworks that individuals use to interpret experiences, evolving through the processes of challenge and transition to create new meanings.
How do old and new schemata interact during the sensemaking process?
How do old and new schemata interact during the sensemaking process?
Old schemata that have not been challenged intermingle with schemata in transition and those that have already changed, influencing the development of new perspectives.
What does the cyclical nature of sensemaking imply for individuals experiencing change?
What does the cyclical nature of sensemaking imply for individuals experiencing change?
The cyclical nature implies that individuals continuously adapt their interpretations as change unfolds, only returning to less conscious sensemaking once change stabilizes.
In what way do social processes mediate sensemaking according to the content?
In what way do social processes mediate sensemaking according to the content?
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How do change consequences develop over time in the sensemaking process?
How do change consequences develop over time in the sensemaking process?
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Study Notes
Strategic Change as Emergent Process
- Strategic change is often characterized as a context-dependent, unpredictable, and nonlinear process.
- Intended change strategies frequently lead to unintended consequences.
- Empirical studies highlight the emergence of strategies and its departure from rationalistic, top-down approaches.
- This emphasizes the need to consider micro-organizational social processes and the influence of individuals beyond senior management on strategy formation.
Sensemaking and Change Receptivity
- Individuals possess mental models or "schemata" that are influenced by existing cognitions and interpretations.
- During periods of stability, these schemata are reinforced and become the foundation for "generic subjectivity," a shared understanding of organizational reality.
- When encountering change, individuals experience surprise as expectations diverge from reality, triggering a more conscious sensemaking mode.
- This conscious sensemaking involves "intersubjective" interactions, turning into a social process.
- Sensemaking manifests through conversations, narratives, communication genres, and social practices.
- It is a cyclical process, where individuals' interpretations of change, shaped by social interactions, lead to both intended and unintended outcomes.
The Role of Middle Managers in Sensemaking
- Middle managers, as change recipients, play a crucial role in sensemaking.
- They engage in "intersubjective" interactions, seeking shared meaning and understanding of change initiatives.
- Interactions among middle managers, through conversations, stories, gossip, and discussions, shape their interpretations of change.
- This dynamic process influences their actions and contributes to both intended and unintended consequences of change.
- The study emphasizes the role of lateral, informal social processes in shaping the outcome of change strategies.
- This further emphasizes the unpredictable nature of change implementation.
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Description
Explore the emergent processes of strategic change and the role of sensemaking in organizational adaptation. This quiz delves into the dynamics of intended versus unintended change strategies and how individuals interpret and react to changes within organizations. Gain insights into the importance of micro-organizational factors in strategy formation.
