The gap between rhetoric and reality

Abstract

Covers change in organizations and highlights three in particular: BT payphones; Citibank; and Hewlett‐Packard, using insets to show level of change, initial response, movement and new situations. Discusses research findings and unveils a variety of factors that affect how change initiatives are received, employing a Figure to aid in explanation of three groups: content; context; and cognition. Concludes, for employees to unlearn old ways, they themselves must take some responsibility for change.