Organisational change: a methodologyto uncover the business idea

Abstract

A study was undertaken to identify the "Business Idea", as defined by van der Heijden (1996), in The FamilyPlanning Association of WA Inc (FPWA) which is a Non-Government Organisation (NGO) in Perth, WesternAustralia. This organisation was chosen as, along with many other NGOs, it was undergoing major changes in itsfunding, role and required outcomes.A qualitative interpretivist single case study methodology employing grounded theory research principles and methodswas used to study the Business Idea framework in this setting. Thirty-four members of FPWA's staff were interviewedand data was managed using NUD*IST4 and Decision Explorer data storage, data retrieval and graphicalreproduction facilities.Results indicated that images of the Business Idea model within FPWA were largely consistent across all staff levelsexcepting members of the Board of Management. Changes within the organisation were impacting heavily on staff,who needed to be assisted over the transitional phase. Strong leadership and corporate direction were identified asessential if the FPWA was to balance the strongly held sense of social justice amongst its staff with a need for greaterproductivity, efficiency and accountability across the organisation.