Title: Change management: the I Ching way

Authors: Ping Lan

Addresses: School of Management, University of Alaska Fairbanks, P.O. Box 756080, Fairbanks, AK 99775-6080, USA

Abstract: This article aims to present an alternative toolkit for change management by introducing I Ching - the oldest Chinese book squarely focused on changes, and its working mechanism, which is polar opposite to conventional Western management philosophy and methodology. The article points out that 'the I Ching way' works mainly on non-causal relationship, provides an unbounded 'result-process-advice' set for dealing with uncertainty, and offers a means for integrating changes and change elements. It represents either a different thinking or an operating system. Adopting the I Ching way in management undoubtedly stimulates out-off box thinking and have an alternative for dealing with complex issues.

Keywords: I Ching; change management; synchronicity; result-process-advice integration; alternative management toolkit; uncertainty; complexity.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBSR.2014.058007

International Journal of Business and Systems Research, 2014 Vol.8 No.1, pp.34 - 50

Published online: 07 Jun 2014 *

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