A SYSTEM READY FOR CHANGE

MINIMAL CONSISTENT CHANGES PRODUCE MAXIMUM RESULTS

A series of experiments were carried out over a 6-month period at a large U.S. east coast utility company. Four departments and a control department participated with each receiving a series 21-day interventions with five Factors assessed by prior survey to be relevant and needed for successful change efforts at the company. The departments chose the order of the experiments based on their scores and votes from department employees.

Ages ranged from 22 to 64, between 38 and 46 persons per department. Attrition was 2.1% of the total sample size. The study required 100% compliance, that is, every member participated with all experiments.

The data were analyzed using a Repeated Measures ANOVA with Pre- and post-measures using the Change Ready Survey and the Oxford Well-Being Quiz.

At a 3-month and 6-month follow-up, significant increases in scores of well-being (p<.01), engagement, trust and performance measures of absentee and illness rates (p<.05) were shown for the experimental groups. The control group showed a modest, but not significant increase in scores.

The final depent variable at the end of a six-month period was the rated success of a change initiative at the company over the four experimental groups and the control group. All four experimental groups rated the success of the initiative at 91.6%, and only 52% of the control group rated the measure a success using identical criteria.

Below are short descriptions and a brief summary of fIndings for FACTOR 3 OPERATIONS and FACTOR 4 OPTIMISM.

NOTE: In the actual studies, the experimenter met with employees twice to introduce the series, conducted a series of assessment, and coached the department leaders in implementation.