I have read all of John Kotter‘s books and reviewed most of them. In my opinion, mo other business thinker in recent years has made a greater contribution to our understanding of what continues to be a highly competitive, tumultuous global marketplace. In his latest book, Accelerate: Building Strategic Agility for a Faster-Moving World (XLR8), he explains how almost any organization can move quickly enough to stay ahead in “an age of tumultuous change and growing uncertainties.” His focus is on how to handle strategic challenges fast enough, “with agility and creativity, to take advantage of windows of opportunity which open and shut more quickly.”
Of special interest to me is his assertion that the best results of business initiatives are achieved with a “dual system.” That is, one whose structure effectively coordinates traditional, stable hierarchy with an innovative, dynamic network.
This well-functioning dual operating system is guided by these basic principles, each of which he explains:
o Many people driving change, and from everywhere, not just the usual few appointees
o A “get to” mindset, not a “have to” one
o Action that is head and heart driven, not just head driven
o Much more leadership, not just more management
o An inseparable partnership between the hierarchy and the network, not just an enhanced hierarchy
Kotter also identifies and discusses eight accelerators that facilitate, indeed expedite a network structure integrated with its hierarchy, “and processes that, once started, never stop.” These initiatives are:
1. Create a sense of urgency around a Big Opportunity.
2. Build and evolve a guiding coalition.
3. Form a change vision and strategic initiatives.
4. Enlist a volunteer army.
5. Enable action by removing barriers.
6. Generate (and celebrate) short-term wins.
7. Sustain acceleration.
8. Institute change.
Kotter offers explanations of HOW to make effective use of the process principles and accelerators. For coverage in much greater depth, he has written books and articles about all this.
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