The ´soft side´ of change (management)

Whereas much change in manufacturing concentrates on the introduction of new technologies, systems and work methods, this paper focuses on the management and organisational requirements (the ´soft side´) necessary to support full exploitation. Examination of research findings from the late 1980s reveals that the problem to be addressed in the 1990s is not that of lack of adoption, but of lack of success in adoption. Variously problems of implementation and inadequate organisational design arrangements necessary to sustain the changes have been blamed for this state of affairs. This paper argues the need for fundamental shifts in the implicit and largely unquestionable assumptions concerning each of these which are contained within the managerial mindset. Collectively these add up to the prevailing organisational culture. A prototyped, field tested tool for driving cultural change by transforming the managerial mindset is outlined.