Chapter 12- Coping with Organizational Life: Change Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts related to organizational change, management strategies, and resistance factors within criminal justice agencies.

Change

Any alteration that occurs in the organization of the total environment.

Planned change

Occurs when managers develop and install a program that serves to alter organizational activities in a timely and orderly way.

Reactive change

Occurs when managers simply respond to the pressure for change when that pressure comes to their attention, usually following a piecemeal approach to problems needing immediate resolution.

Change agents

Individuals and groups that act as catalysts and assume responsibility for managing the change process, including coordinating the planning and development of new or revised programs.

Change intervention

An intentional action on the part of someone to make things different.

External sources of change

Factors outside an organization that modify its ability to attract resources or market its services, such as legislation, court opinion, media pressure, and social norms.

Internal sources of change

Pressures within an organization including conflict, administrative restructuring, technological shifts, declining productivity, and changes in worker attitudes.

Technological change

The use of a new method—such as new machinery, knowledge, tools, or techniques—to transform resources into a service.

Vision statement

A simple and idealistic image of an attainable future that conveys what is important to the organization, why it is worthwhile, and how it can be done.

Organizational culture

The characteristic values, traditions, and behaviors that an organization's employees share.

Value

A basic belief about what is right or wrong, or what one should or shouldn't do.

Unfreezing

The process of getting an organization ready for change by recognizing the need for change and overcoming resistance to the status quo.

Moving

The stage in which driving forces overcome restraining forces and a change plan is implemented to introduce different attitudes and behaviors.

Refreezing

The process of institutionalization where the change is stabilized and made into a permanent organizational habit.

Internalization

The social/psychological process of trying, adopting, and becoming committed to new attitudes or behaviors.

Diagnosis

The process of analyzing the organization, recognizing performance deficits, and identifying primary causes of problems before developing a solution.

SARA model

A four-stage diagnostic process used in problem-oriented policing consisting of Scanning, Analysis, Response, and Assessment.

Compstat

A program based on computer-generated statistical information systems used to guide police program operations.

Inertia

A source of organizational resistance where the entity tends to continue in the same direction at the same rate, often placing a high value on not 'rocking the boat'.

Scanning

The first step of the SARA model, which involves identifying the problem.

Analysis

The second step of the SARA model, which involves learning the problem's causes, scope, and effects.

Response

The third step of the SARA model, involving acting to alleviate the problem and developing an effective solution.

Assessment

The final step of the SARA model, which involves determining the effectiveness of the response.