PerSpectives 12 Ministries and Training Director, Jan Paron http://perspectives12.org Blog: specs12.wordpress.com Van de Ven and Poole's Forces of Change

1. C
H
A
N
G
E FORCES
Van de Ven & Poole, 1995

2. Overview of Change Forces
Upon viewing scriptural events from the perspective of
change forces that transpired during a time period, you gain a
deeper understanding of Scripture by peeling back everyday
circumstances. Theorists Van de Ven and Poole, say that
It is the interplay between different perspectives that helps
one gain a more comprehensive understanding of
organizational life, because any one theoretical
perspective invariably offers only a partial account of a
complex phenomenon (1995).

3. Imagine looking at fibers through a microscope to identify the
contents of a particular sample. Without a system of
classification, you see a conglomeration of materials – a
mishmash. On the other hand, if you have a way to sort
through the materials or markers to guide recognition, then
patterns emerge that lead to interpretation. Along these lines,
Van de Ven and Poole present four basic types of change
force models that help explain historical development of an
organization: life-cycle, teleological, dialectical, and
evolutionary.

4. Summary Timeline
• Cycle of events that move • Startup
through stages • Grow
• Harvest
• Termination
Life Cycle
Entities Characteristics
• Institution or program • Linear
influences change • Sequential

5. Summary Timeline
• Change results from • Change is a natural state
conflict between two • Tied to contrast
parties
Dialectical
Entities Characteristics
• Two parties in conflict • Change produces stability
with each other

6. Summary Timeline
• Change occurs as a result • Planned and systematic
of planned actions
Teleological
Entities Characteristics
• Goals drive movement • Organization adapts to
toward change change
• Constituents devise goals • Constituents work
through consensus together

7. Summary Timeline
• Change results from an • Time ordered, cyclical,
accumulation of events continuous
• Short or long periods of
time
Evolutionary
Entities Characteristics
• Accumulation of evolved • Continuous cycle of
events variation, selection, and
retention

8. References
• Newbigin, L. (1991). Truth or tell: The Gospel as public truth.
Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing.
• Van de Ven, A. & Poole, M. (1995). Explaining development and
change in organizations. Academy of Management Review, 3 (20)
510-540.
• Van de Ven, A. & Poole, M. (Eds.). (2004). Handbook of
organizational change and innovation. New York, NY: Oxford
University Press.
• Whitesel, B. (2010, April). The 'fantastic four.' Leadership.
Retrieved on October, 2010 from
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forces-that-control-church-change