Organizational Theory as a Context for Dynamic Change Management

Organizational theory emerged since the beginning of the industrial revolution in the eighteenth century. With the establishment of factories and social change, work also had to be organized into structures and processes. Max Weber and his model of bureaucracy and others created the first theoretical foundations, which were further developed. In the middle of the twentieth century, the success story of sociological systems theory began, the core of which consists of addressing the purpose of hierarchy and membership in an organization as well as the formal and informal elements of programs, personnel, and communication. This view also represents the frame of reference for the discussion of organizational change management. Contemporary theories such as Weick’s process-oriented approach are outlined. Interdisciplinary approaches from sociology, psychology, computer science and anthropology are discussed at the end, as well as an assessment of possible future lines of development in organizational theory, ranging from social and ecological challenges to philosophical and ethical approaches.