The Calm-Waters and White-Water Rapids Metaphors Used for Change Management Free Essay Example, 2000 words

The interruption that it comes across with is temporary. Kurt Lewin s 3-step change process is a comprehensive explanation of the metaphor. The three steps include unfreezing of the status quo, modification to the new state, and freezing the change again in order to make it permanent (Robbins and Coulter, 2007). Status quo constitutes a state of equilibrium. In order to break away from this state, it is pivotal to unfreeze; this encompasses the notion of making preparations for ushering in change. Unfreezing subsequently requires a change in either the driving forces or the restraining forces. Driving forces include those factors which can accelerate the pace at which change occurs. Contrarily, restraining forces form an obstacle to change. Thereby, the focus is on amplifying driving forces and cutting down refraining forces. After status quo has been abandoned, the next step is the implementation of the change. For the change to be long-lasting, freezing needs to be done again. Thi s would ensure that the new state would not revert back to its former form (Robbins and Coulter, 2007). Thus, the third step helps to buttress the change and make it permanent. We will write a custom essay sample on The Calm-Waters and White-Water Rapids Metaphors Used for Change Management or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/page White-waters rapids envision a dynamic environment in which the organization has to be flexible and responsive to change in order to stay at par with its competitors. A structured organization has minimal chances of surviving in such an environment because of the demands for accommodating to an uncertain future. For practical purposes, the predictable and smooth environment assumed by the calm-waters metaphor is not usually seen.