The management of change

'We trained hard--but it seemed that every time we were beginning to form up into teams we would be reorganised. I was beginning to learn later in life that we tend to meet any new situation by reorganising; and a wonderful method it can be for creating the illusion of progress while producing confusion, inefficiency and demoralisation.' (Petronius Arbiter, 210 BC). Many people would probably say that little seems to have changed over the last 2000 years or more. However, such outcomes are not inevitable and this article shows how a more positive response to change can be achieved.