An Internet Article Review on Managing Change
This paper will examine Scott Simmerman’s article, “Teaching the Caterpillar to Fly – Some Ideas on Managing Change (1999).” Resistance to change from the viewpoint of a highly resistant caterpillar will be discussed. The value of people as idea generators in discussion type settings will be identified as a benefit of diversity. This benefit when put to work in a team setting can lead to improvements which the Dilbert cartoon illustrates are so globally needed. Including people in the improvement process helps them overcome the natural resistance response to change allowing them to transition from caterpillar to butterfly.
“People will often resist change because they are comfortable with how things are, right now. By identifying Square wheels and Round Wheels, we increase discomfort with the way things are and we make change more likely” (Simmerman, 1999, p. 12). This author can relate to this in the work center that she currently finds herself employed. With the advent of technology, there are many opportunities for improvement. Computers and programs introduce and make round wheels available making the square way of doing things inefficient and obsolete. Unfortunately, people often resist change. This author, a purveyor of change, often encounters it. One coworker confided that “This is the way I have been doing it for 20 or more years. I am comfortable doing it this way and your wanting to change things is a shock to my system” (R. Correa, personal communication, n.d.)
“Two caterpillars are conversing and a beautiful butterfly floats by. One caterpillar turns and says to the other, You’ll never get me up on one of those butterfly things.” (Simmerman, 1999, p. 1) The theme of this story is about resistance to change. It doesn’t matter if the change is beneficial it is still going to meet with resistance. When Simmerman (1999, p. 2) introduced this story to a large group, he received many different responses in a discussion. Some of the observations made were:
Caterpillars have no need to fly. They are well-grounded!
Caterpillars can eat anything green and find food everywhere.
Butterflies are a stage beyond caterpillars.
Butterflies have to fly to get anywhere. Caterpillars can crawl and climb.
It's easier for butterflies to develop perspective than caterpillars.
We can attempt to resist and suffer the stress and difficulties.
You have to stop being a caterpillar in order to become a butterfly.
Change is not always a conscious decision. Change will occur, inevitably.
We can choose to be active participants in change. Or not, maybe.
We go through stages of development and butterflies are one stage closer to death.
Risk avoidance is normal.
Change is often actively resisted.
Change is inevitable.
Caterpillars don't like wings.
Caterpillars must hate flying since they don't try.
There is a need for vision and perspective -- we're all on a journey.
Caterpillars focus only on eating and survival. Butterflies get blown around by the wind and caterpillars can drag their [next page]