Managing the Aftermath of Radical Corporate Change: Reengineering, Restructuring, and Reinvention

240 Pages·1997·12.54 MB·English

by  Eliezer Geisler

Managing the Aftermath
of Radical
Corporate Change
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Managing the Aftermath
of Radical
Corporate Change
Reengineering, Restructuring,
and Reinvention
Eliezer Geisler
Q
QUORUM BOOKS
Westport, Connecticut • London
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Geisler, Eliezer, 1942-
Managing the aftermath of radical corporate change :
reengineering, restructuring, and reinvention / Eliezer Geisler.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 1-56720-150-4 (alk. paper)
1. Organizational change. 2. Reengineering (Management)
I. Title.
HE)58.8.G44 1997
658.4'06—DC21 97-8852
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data is available.
Copyright © 1997 by Eliezer Geisler
All rights resrved. No portion of this book may be
reproduced, by any process or technique, without the
express written consent of the publisher.
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 97-8852
ISBN: 1-56720-150-4
First published in 1997
Quomm Books, 88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881
An imprint of Greenwood Publishing Group, Inc.
Printed in the United States of America
The paper used in this book complies with the
Permanent Paper Standard issued by the National
Information Standards Organization (Z39.48-1984).
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 32
In loving memory of my mother, Mrs. Haya Geisler, who passed
away during the preparation of this book, and is now forever in the
company of angels.
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CONTENTS
PREFACE ix
INTRODUCTION 1
1 RADICAL ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE 7
2 THE NEW WORLD OF BUSINESS 17
3 THE CRISIS IN MANAGEMENT 25
4 BUSINESS PROCESS REENGINEERING:
WHAT WENT WRONG AND WHY 39
5 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY: RATIONALIZING
THE IMPERATIVES 65
6 THE AFTERMATH OF REENGINEERING 87
7 CLEANING-UP: THE PROCESS OF RESTORING BALANCE 119
8 ANNOUNCING RESTORATION OF STABILITY 145
9 EMPOWERING A CHAMPION 149
10 ASSESSING THE DAMAGE 155
11 CO-OPTING MIDDLE MANAGERS 171
12 ESTABLISHING RESOURCES 177
13 INTRODUCING LOCALIZED CHANGES 185
14 REFREEZING AND REINVENTING 207
viii Contents
15 WHERE WE STAND 215
16 WITAT THE FUTURE HOLDS 221
EPILOGUE 223
INDEX 225
PREFACE
This book was born as a response to the need for a hands-on book on the aftermath of
radical change for managers of reengineered corporations. My main purpose in
writing this book is to help the manager to better understand the radical corporate
changes that reengineering has caused. Since the early 1990s American work
organizations have undergone radical transformations—under the umbrella of
Business Process Reengineering—which have resulted in massive downsizing and a
host of other side effects.
Much of what has been written recently by academics and consultants alike, has
been directed at improving the reengineering intervention. I'll be using this term
"intervention" throughout the book to describe the total phenomenon of reengineering.
Some writers have looked at why certain aspects of reengineering have failed and
others even offered some partial solution.
But the task has remained unaccomplished. American corporations have
"downsized," "rightsized," redesigned their work processes, and improved
dramatically their bottom lines in an economy that kept interest rates low and the stock
market booming.
As I took a sabbatical from my academic position in early 1996 and went about
my business of managerial consulting, I too often encountered large and midsize
corporations in the period following the reengineering exercise or intervention. Many
resembled a battlefield after a decisive battle. Some managers who still remained in
their positions were increasing their productivity and resembled hyperactive beavers.
Others just went about their work among the ruins of what used to be their
departments, counting and mourning those terminated.
Everybody had questions, and almost nobody clearly understood why all this
happened. More important, I was bombarded with questions such as: What now?
How do we reorganize? lick the wounds? regroup?
The focus of this book is twofold: first, to describe and explain the consequences
and aftermath of the reengineering intervention—the side effects on the organization
and its managers; second, to advise executives at all levels of the organization of steps
for cleaning up after the intervention and for restoring stability to the shattered
organization.
With this book I wish to give the reader a valuable perspective on what happened
in the organization and what to do in the aftermath of radical corporate change. The
value added to the reader is a much better understanding of his or her corporate
surroundings and possession of a workable framework to restore balance and promote
stability.