The Anatomy of Change

Book excerpt: Globalization, the new economy, and the IT revolution are some of the words used when researchers - as well as practitioners - try to explain the seemingly ever-increasing speed of change in contemporary society. Whatever the label, organizations today are facing change in a host of different ways. Sometimes they act as "change-takers," forced to adapt to changes and innovations coming from the outside. At other times they are "change-makers," who foster innovation and change, giving them a competitive advantage or a heightened legitimacy. Sometimes they force others to adapt to these changes. The analyses presented in this volume provide ample evidence of how the perspective of new institutionalism can help in understanding the anatomy of change, and how some actors avoid complete stasis through utilizing small openings instead of breaking down the whole wall.