| Abstract [eng] |
This master’s thesis examines how transition managers navigate change in organizational transition projects. It explores how transition managers adjust their approaches during transition projects and what organizational factors influence adaptive capacity. The thesis further investigates how these factors contribute to effective transition processes and support transition managers in navigating change. The purpose of this study is to understand how transition managers navigate adaptive capacity in transition projects and to identify the organizational factors that enable or constrain adaptive capacity. The tasks of this master’s thesis are: 1) To analyze the theory of transition management, transition manager and adaptive capacity. 2) To identify organizational factors. 3) To determine positive and negative organizational factors. 4) To analyze how those factors affect project outcomes. 5) To evaluate and provide a structured list of organizational factors that can support transition managers' adaptive capacity. A qualitative research method was employed. Eight experienced transition managers participated in the study. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews using a personal probing technique. Eight open-ended questions, aligned with the research objectives, were designed to examine how transition managers apply adaptive capacity in practice and how organizational factors influence their ability to do so. The results demonstrated that transition managers’ ability to use adaptive capacity is influenced by leadership support, clear communication, sufficient resources, psychological safety, decision ownership, freedom to make decisions, preparation and documentation, and creative thinking. Conversely, limited resources, delayed HR and legal involvement, poor communication structures, and lack of IT support reduce adaptive capacity. To conclude, this research contributes to a deeper understanding of transition management by showing that adaptive capacity is a system-level capability that must be actively enabled by the organization to achieve successful transition outcomes. |
