| Abstract [eng] |
Organizations must continuously adapt and transform in order to remain competitive as the business landscape becomes increasingly volatile and uncertain. However, the mechanisms through which transformational change unfold in business organizations are still shrouded in mystery and remain poorly understood. In an attempt to shed the light on this elusive subject, this doctoral dissertation ventured into the scarcely explored domain of proactive change initiation, a field that has been largely disregarded in past studies. Utilizing an integrated approach of multiple case study and grounded theory methodology, it sought to understand the organizational characteristics and strategies that enable business organizations to initiate transformational changes proactively. The study's results highlight the vital role that "organizational olfaction," defined as the capacity to sense and interpret stimuli and shifts in the external environment, plays in the process of proactive transformation initiation. Additionally, the research identified specific organizational attributes that enhance an organization's proactive transformation competence. By illuminating the four-phase process of proactive transformational change initiation and the key role that organizational resilience, attention, and sensemaking play in it, this dissertation aims to bridge the gap between academic understanding and practical application and, ultimately, in a tangible way, help organizations navigate the tumultuous waters of change more effectively. |
