Managing Technological Managing Technological ChangeChange

Chapter 4Chapter 4

Matt DockeryMatt Dockery

IntroductionIntroduction Daryl P. Ely was the first to emphasize the environmental Daryl P. Ely was the first to emphasize the environmental

conditions that promote change.conditions that promote change.

Broadest and most far reaching study. Broadest and most far reaching study.

Pioneering study of change in libraries in 1976.Pioneering study of change in libraries in 1976.

Refined over the years, now includes educational technology.Refined over the years, now includes educational technology.

Research suggests the environment for the innovation is Research suggests the environment for the innovation is equally important in the change success. equally important in the change success.

““The goal is to attain each of these eight conditions during The goal is to attain each of these eight conditions during implementation.”implementation.”

The Eight ConditionsThe Eight Conditions

1.1. Dissatisfaction with the Status QuoDissatisfaction with the Status Quo

2.2. Knowledge and Skills ExistKnowledge and Skills Exist

3.3. Resources are AvailableResources are Available

4.4. Time is AvailableTime is Available

5.5. Rewards or Incentives Exist for ParticipanRewards or Incentives Exist for Participantsts

6.6. Participation is Expected and EncouragedParticipation is Expected and Encouraged

7.7. Commitment by Those Who are InvolvedCommitment by Those Who are Involved

8.8. Leadership is EvidentLeadership is Evident

Dissatisfaction with the Dissatisfaction with the Status QuoStatus Quo

““Only person who likes change is a wet baby”Only person who likes change is a wet baby”

Participants must perceive the status quo to be less than Participants must perceive the status quo to be less than comfortable.comfortable.

There are a wide range of possible causes for dissatisfaction.There are a wide range of possible causes for dissatisfaction.

Diagnostic perspective – More than a number, bad textbooks, Diagnostic perspective – More than a number, bad textbooks, test scores, who is dissatisfied?test scores, who is dissatisfied?

Marketing perspective – Understanding dissatisfaction can help Marketing perspective – Understanding dissatisfaction can help innovation.innovation.

Examples.Examples.

Knowledge and Skills ExistKnowledge and Skills Exist

““People may believe that changes are in order, People may believe that changes are in order, but without the specific knowledge and skills to but without the specific knowledge and skills to bring about change the individual is helpless.”bring about change the individual is helpless.”

Often overlooked is educational change.Often overlooked is educational change.

Common cause is perceived lack of training.Common cause is perceived lack of training.

Undertake change to ensure that effective Undertake change to ensure that effective training is provided.training is provided.

Resources are AvailableResources are Available

““Resources are broadly defined as those Resources are broadly defined as those tools and other relevant materials that are tools and other relevant materials that are accessible to assist learner to acquire accessible to assist learner to acquire learning objectives.”learning objectives.”

Big ticket items – Computers, salaries, Big ticket items – Computers, salaries, training, facilities.training, facilities.

Those working on change must make sure Those working on change must make sure resources are available.resources are available.

Time is AvailableTime is Available

““Implementers must have time to learn, adapt, Implementers must have time to learn, adapt, integrate, and reflect on what they are doing.”integrate, and reflect on what they are doing.”

Those expected to adopt change need time for Those expected to adopt change need time for developing and redeveloping materials.developing and redeveloping materials.

Some employees may resist change if they believe Some employees may resist change if they believe they will not be compensated for the additional time.they will not be compensated for the additional time.

Or may refuse to invest time resulting in a poor Or may refuse to invest time resulting in a poor change.change.

Rewards or Incentives Exist Rewards or Incentives Exist for Participantsfor Participants

Regardless of whether the reward is Regardless of whether the reward is intrinsic or extrinsic, or whether it is seen intrinsic or extrinsic, or whether it is seen as the result of the cause of innovation as the result of the cause of innovation use, it should be there in some form.use, it should be there in some form.

Tenured teacher may not see the need to Tenured teacher may not see the need to change if they produce good test scores, change if they produce good test scores, unless there is a linked reward to change.unless there is a linked reward to change.

Participation is Expected Participation is Expected and Encouragedand Encouraged

““This means shared decision making, communication This means shared decision making, communication among all parties involved, and representation where among all parties involved, and representation where individual participation is difficult.”individual participation is difficult.”

Buy in to the process with time, effort, and ideas Buy in to the process with time, effort, and ideas contributes to a sense of ownership in the innovation.contributes to a sense of ownership in the innovation.

Recognize leaders, formally and informally.Recognize leaders, formally and informally.

General participation should be expected, failure to General participation should be expected, failure to make expectations clear lead to neglect of innovations.make expectations clear lead to neglect of innovations.

Commitment by Those Who Commitment by Those Who are Involvedare Involved

““An unqualified go-ahead and vocal support for the An unqualified go-ahead and vocal support for the innovation by key players and other stakeholders is innovation by key players and other stakeholders is necessary.”necessary.”

Expectation and Encouragement.Expectation and Encouragement.

All familiar with the “flavor of the month”, the All familiar with the “flavor of the month”, the innovation that occurs every few years.innovation that occurs every few years.

Change requires effort. Endorsement at all levels is Change requires effort. Endorsement at all levels is a must.a must.

Leadership is EvidentLeadership is Evident

Cognitive impact of leadership may be summed up Cognitive impact of leadership may be summed up according to the change framework.according to the change framework.

Also have affective influences, whether they are Also have affective influences, whether they are official supervisors, role models, mentors, or official supervisors, role models, mentors, or advisors.advisors.

They provide individuals with inspiration and They provide individuals with inspiration and encouragement throughout the change process.encouragement throughout the change process.

““Change is a process, not an event.”Change is a process, not an event.”

Other StudiesOther Studies Before Ely, such as the Volume II of the Rand Before Ely, such as the Volume II of the Rand

Change Agent Study in 1975, largely ignored Change Agent Study in 1975, largely ignored organization, structure and motivation. Got people organization, structure and motivation. Got people thinking about change.thinking about change.

Examples of modified Ely research projectsExamples of modified Ely research projects1.1. Haryono’s 1990 investigation of higher education Haryono’s 1990 investigation of higher education

improvement programs in Indonesia.improvement programs in Indonesia.2.2. Newton’s 1992 study of the implementation of Newton’s 1992 study of the implementation of

whole language teaching methods.whole language teaching methods.3.3. Read in 1993 and Bauder in 1994 incorporated Read in 1993 and Bauder in 1994 incorporated

Ely’s conditions into advanced quantitative Ely’s conditions into advanced quantitative inquiries.inquiries.

Other Studies - Other Studies - continuedcontinued

Some studies use different labels but Some studies use different labels but derive from Ely’s conditions.derive from Ely’s conditions.

Using Ely’s conditions in conjunction Using Ely’s conditions in conjunction with other models may provide fertile with other models may provide fertile ground for future inquiry.ground for future inquiry.

In ConclusionIn Conclusion Ely pioneered the investigation of Ely pioneered the investigation of

environmental condition and their influence environmental condition and their influence on the change process.on the change process.

The phrase “conditions of change” has come The phrase “conditions of change” has come to represent this method of inquiry.to represent this method of inquiry.

Research supports both qualitative and Research supports both qualitative and quantitative.quantitative.

Review 8 Conditions.Review 8 Conditions.

Strong/Weak PointsStrong/Weak Points

Strong Points – Basic Framework, Strong Points – Basic Framework, Provides Steps for Change Process, Provides Steps for Change Process, Great Reference. Great Reference.

Weak Points – Too general, can be Weak Points – Too general, can be Updated and Changed, how to get Updated and Changed, how to get from one step to the next.from one step to the next.

My ReactionMy Reaction

These eight conditions are so simple, yet so difficult as well. These eight conditions are so simple, yet so difficult as well. Each step is a logical progression from one to the next. The Each step is a logical progression from one to the next. The hard part is the actual application of each part.hard part is the actual application of each part.

Dissatisfaction with the status quo and resources available Dissatisfaction with the status quo and resources available seem to be the most obvious. There are always unhappy seem to be the most obvious. There are always unhappy people in a work environment, and the resources may not people in a work environment, and the resources may not always be available that automatically shuts the project always be available that automatically shuts the project down. The most obvious is rewards and incentives, I know down. The most obvious is rewards and incentives, I know everyone would like to be compensated! The most important everyone would like to be compensated! The most important is leadership. Great leadership leads to great innovations in is leadership. Great leadership leads to great innovations in all aspects of life. I feel this is the most important part of all aspects of life. I feel this is the most important part of Ely’s conditions. Ely’s conditions.

Ely came up with a great framework that has been adapted Ely came up with a great framework that has been adapted and changed over the years that people have significantly and changed over the years that people have significantly used as a reference. Most change models should refer to this.used as a reference. Most change models should refer to this.

ReferencesReferences Ellsworth, J. B. (2000). Surviving change: A survey of Ellsworth, J. B. (2000). Surviving change: A survey of

educational change models. Syracuse, NY: ERIC Clearinghouse educational change models. Syracuse, NY: ERIC Clearinghouse on Information & Technologyon Information & Technology

Ely, D. P. (1990). Conditions that facilitate the implementation Ely, D. P. (1990). Conditions that facilitate the implementation of educational technology innovations. of educational technology innovations. Journal of Research on Journal of Research on Computing in EducationComputing in Education, 23 (2), 298-305. , 23 (2), 298-305.

Ely, D. P. (1999). Ely, D. P. (1999). New perspectives on the implementation of New perspectives on the implementation of educational technology innovation.educational technology innovation.

http://www.ericdigests.org/2001-2/survey.htmlhttp://www.ericdigests.org/2001-2/survey.html

http://www2.gsu.edu/~wwwitr/features/leaders/ely.htmlhttp://www2.gsu.edu/~wwwitr/features/leaders/ely.html (Ely (Ely Biography)Biography)