Change Management –MGMT625 VU
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LESSON # 4
IMPLICATIONS OF KURT LEWIN MODEL
Implications of Kurt Lewin Model
1. Change can be directed, managed and controlled (Learning is a choice behaviour)
2. There is an explicit recognition to the fact that change will be resisted
3. This resistance can be overcome thru management and good leadership
4. Sequence of event also matters
5. Change Attitude – behaviour will follow
6. Change the context – behaviour will follow this implies B = f( P * E)
1. Change can be directed, managed and controlled (Learning is a choice behaviour)
Every thing is not pre-ordained and predetermined. Modern thinking is scientific or formulaic.
There is a general formula for everything with in the domain of natural sciences or social sciences.
Therefore what is known as social sciences is that tools and methods used for creating scientific
knowledge can also be applied to create knowledge in social domain. Therefore learning such type
of abstract social disciplines such as entrepreneurship, leadership, management and organization
culture from scientific approach means these very subjects can be taught and learned. So in this
respect modern approach is different from the traditional one as now learning is considered not a
function of gene or inheritance but a matter of aptitude and interest. Hence social behaviour can be
managed like a thermostat or control valve to get the desired end. For instance, these control valves
may reside in financial and non-financial techniques to motivate individual manager and groups.
2. Explicit recognition that change will be resisted
There are a lot more benefits of categorical acceptance, admission or recognition of some variable
under research. In fact research has more to do with the identification of critical variable which play
influential role in the causation of any phenomenon, and earlier was less focussed upon. Therefore
once we know and recognise that resistance to change is distinct phenomenon for study, we will
also study and target imperatively how to overcome this resistance. This is a typical technique of
Western academics to bifurcate and focus in a specialised (in depth study) manner to create new
subjects and disciplines. In other words division of labour exist in academics.
3. The resistance can be overcome through management and good leadership
As pointed out above once we know resistance is a critical variable to study simultaneously make
imperative for us to know what type o leadership and management style will overcome what type of
resistance. Hence we see that change management literature most of the focuses on the participative
decision making, employee involvement, delegation, decentralization and team building etc. for
organization to manage organizational transformation and strategic management programme.
4. Sequence of event also matters
The model also depicts that change management process has a sequence to it. In order to manage
planned change we ought to know what should come first, which stage is follow another and how to
identify which change management stage we are in like a life cycle approach
5. Change attitude - behaviour will follow
First we have to seek differentiation between the two terms, attitude and behaviour. The concept
‘attitude’ is more comprehensive than the term behaviour which included cognitive as well action
orientation while behaviour is defined only in action perspective. Therefore going by this approach
in order to have meaningful change we have to change first attitude. Hence change in cognition will
lead to behavioural change. Alternate approach could be to change action which will eventually
lead to attitudinal change. Here focal point for change is actions since actions are visible and
measurable. The former change method is democratic in spirit while later is autocratic in nature.
There is a flaw from methodological point of view, to measure change; the dominant paradigm of
western social sciences is to target action. For instance scientific school of theory building (by and
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