2.1.2. Typology of change

Change divides broadly into gradual and radical forms. Gradual change occurs slowly over a prolonged period, at a steady rate or with minor fluctuations of intensity. In contrast, radical change is a sudden, dramatic change with marked effects on strategy, structure and culture of an organisation. Within these two extremes, a wide variety of types and combinations occur, each of them with a different scale of change. A useful model is presented by Dunphy and Stace:³

Change" class="wp-image-10551 size-full" height="408" src="https://sgbs.ch/wp-content/uploads/Table-1-The-Scale-of-Change.jpg" width="560"> Table 1: The Scale of Change

The type of change depends on the intensity of external and internal drivers for change. For instance, if the external political, legal, economic, technological and social environments are relatively stable, organisations can change in an incremental gradual manner or focus on specific initiatives. Typically, they do not fundamentally alter the overall organisation. However, periods of external shocks and uncertainty will translate into radical shifts in strategy and widereaching changes throughout the whole organisation.

³ Dunphy. D and Stace D.: The Strategic Management of Corporate Change, in Human Relations, Vol 45, 1993, No 8, pp 917 - 18