Title: An innovative approach to evaluating organisational change

Authors: Joan Henderson, Rodney McAdam, Steven Parkinson

Addresses: School of Management and Economics, 25 University Square, Queen's University Belfast, BT7 1NN, UK. ' Room 1K15, School of Management, University Ulster Jordanstown, Newtownabbey, Co. Antrim, UK. ' Leeds Business School, Metropolitan University, Bronte House, Beckett Park, Headingly, LS6 3QS, UK

Abstract: This paper addresses the difficult problem of how to improve the process of evaluating organisational change. Given that the data emergent from an evaluative exercise will strongly influence the subsequent strategic and operational decisions taken by organisational managers, it is critical that the evaluation approach itself is capable of delivering high quality, accurate and timely data. The aim of this paper is to examine the role of the IT-based Optionfinder Technology used in conjunction with focus groups, in generating management decision-making data, and reflecting the changes in key performance indicators in a utility organisation. The case study research evaluates the innovative integrative approach adopted by the utility organisation and concludes that the proposed approach contributes to improvements in the decision-making capability of managers.

Keywords: information technology; evaluation methodology; organisational decision making; organisational learning; organisational change; focus groups; change management; key performance indicators; performance evaluation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTM.2005.006343

International Journal of Technology Management, 2005 Vol.30 No.1/2, pp.11 - 31

Published online: 23 Feb 2005 *

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