Managing change: students' perceptions of the assimilation of women at Virginia Military Institute
by April Clark, Melinda L. Costello, Robert Yearout
International Journal of Human Resources Development and Management (IJHRDM), Vol. 1, No. 1, 2000

Abstract: In September of 1996, women were admitted to Virginia Military Institute (VMI) for the first time in 158 years. This article discusses the results of a qualitative study which examined student perspectives of the assimilation process. Five men and five women ranging from sophomore to senior were interviewed. One administrator who was closely involved in planning and administering the change was also interviewed for the study. From the students' perspectives, VMI's move from a monolithic to a plural organisation was successful. Their perceptions of effectiveness seemed related to how the change was managed by VMI. As part of the assimilation process, VMI researched other schools that had experienced similar changes, carefully planned for the change, required participation on all levels, focused on a vision of what they wanted to become, included follow-up evaluation in all areas affected by the change, and asked all students involved to feel personally responsible for the effectiveness of the change. Problems that emerged in the interviews are explored as reflections of the limitations of plural organisations.

Online publication date: Mon, 18-Aug-2003

The full text of this article is only available to individual subscribers or to users at subscribing institutions.

 
Existing subscribers:
Go to Inderscience Online Journals to access the Full Text of this article.

Pay per view:
If you are not a subscriber and you just want to read the full contents of this article, buy online access here.

Complimentary Subscribers, Editors or Members of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Human Resources Development and Management (IJHRDM):
Login with your Inderscience username and password:

Username:        Password:          Forgotten your password?

Want to subscribe?
A subscription gives you complete access to all articles in the current issue, as well as to all articles in the previous three years (where applicable). See our Orders page to subscribe.

If you still need assistance, please email subs@inderscience.com