Incremental vs. Systemic Change

(Neal & Tromley, Academy of Management Executive, 1995: 42-54)

Incremental Change
Exploitative

Systemic Change
Exploratory 

CULTURE - Already established
- Focused on changing quality related behaviors rather than changing the underlying values, beliefs, and assumptions. 		- The organization is creating (greenfields) or recreating (retrofitting) itself.
- Paradigm change - a thought revolution in management
HUMAN RESOURCES Recruitment & Selection Systems - These systems change very little. 
- Technical expertise is the deciding factor
- new emplopyees must fit the job. 		- Willingness to learn and ability to work in teams are crucial - fit the organization.
 



Training  

- Focuses on methods of quality improvement (e.g., SPC). 

- Focused on front-line employees. 

- Training may be a one-time effort.

- Training focuses on both social and technical aspects of work.
- Managers and employees receive on-going training.
- The organization adopts a system-approach to training.

Reward system

  
- Does not change much.

 

 - Reward systems are tied to the organization goals.
- Employees are rewarded for optimizing the entire system rather than a particular function.
TECHNOLOGY & WORK DESIGN - Minor modifications to current system.
- Major technological changes are not a result of quality improvement process activities.
- Technology and work are designed to fit the social system.