How to respond to these remarks? I think the Change Agent works with
high-level executives until a well-articulated CONTEXT statement is formed
which, modified by reviews and comments of many, ultimately becomes the
umbrella for change. After that is done, and only after that is done,
wide participation is solicited to take part in a PROCESS which is
furnished by the Change Agent, the only organizational involvement being
in assisting with details required to fill out the PROCESS. The Change
Agent's role is to administer the PROCESS. The organizational people's
role is to provide the CONTENT. By sharply defining roles in this way,
little or no conflict is likely to appear. There is another actor needed
to complete the pattern. That actor is a computer that serves as
sequencing agent and organizing agent in managing the activities and
information from a documentary perspective. Without the computer help in
this way, scientific data show that outcomes will generally be quite
deficient, and will certainly not be widely accepted.
John N. Warfield
Jwarfiel@osf1.gmu.edu