Effects of Change on the Individual

For the purposes of this workshop, we are more interested in the effects of organizational change that arise as a result of external forces and especially as they relate to the individual.

Over the past several years, Literacy Reform in Ontario has resulted in significant program changes at the organizational level as the more than 300 programs throughout the province move toward fully adopting the Recognition of Adult Learning Strategy.

The results of the Positive Strategies for Managing Change survey revealed that respondents and their organizations have experienced many of these changes. They reported that demonstrations, conflicting demands associated with Literacy Reform and the Learning Outcomes were changes that they personally found to be either a strong or very strong stressor. Additionally, virtually all of the respondents expect to experience more changes in the upcoming year.

Martin has highlighted how changes to one component of an organization can affect the other main constituent components. Using H.L. Leavitt's research as a base, Martin identifies four key organizational variables, each with the opportunity to affect the other variables.

Within the literacy field, we can consider the external change agent of Program Reform. The effects of Literacy Reform have resulted in changes to programs, technology and structure. Consequently, it is easy to see how these changes have resulted in the significant changes experienced by the practitioners and administrators within the LBS organizations.