Exploring Organisational Change Processes: "Towards an Understanding of the Forces, Phases and Influencers of Strategic Change Processes in the Omani Context"

Abstract

This study explores the forces, phases and influencers of strategic change (SC) processes in government businesses (GBs) of Oman. The aim of the study is to develop the first process framework of SC in Oman and the Arab Gulf countries that combines the environmental and organisational forces, the sequence of events and the main influencing factors that shape the process. Three objectives were set and three main research questions were asked. Five recent cases of SC processes that occurred in five different GBs operating in five different sectors were purposively selected. Forty-two managers (CEOs, GMs, Senior Managers, HODs and Supervisors) and non-managers from four-five different divisions were purposively selected for semi-structured interviews. The study uses the process approach, critical realism and the contingency perspective to explore SC. Four key findings were reached to by thematically analysing interview data. First, the external environment was found to be a predominant force of rational reactive adaptation. Second, SC processes were found to unfold in a general pattern made up of six phases and combine the assumptions of planned and emergent change. Third, the study revealed that people, leadership style, change management approach and HRM are the main influencers of SC processes in GBs of Oman. People’s needs were found to moderate the effect of the main influencers on organisational performance. Fourth, the study demonstrated that SC processes can be planned and managed in an orderly manner and achieve high performance (positive behavioural and financial outcomes) if there is, among other conditions, leadership-people fit, change management-people fit and HRM-people fit. This study contributed to the Organisational Change, Strategy, Leadership and HRM literatures and offered a unique framework and compelling context-specific insights based on a deep understanding of practice.