The Handbook of Large Group Methods Creating Systemic Change in Organizations and Communities

This new book shows how Large Group Intervention methods are used to gather a whole system together to discuss and take action on the target agenda. That agenda varies from future plans, products and services to redesigning work, to discussion of troubling issues and problems. This book offers an overview of all the methods from the perspective of knowledgeable insiders. Bunker and Alban are the authors of Large Group Interventions (0-7879-0324-8).

Praise for The Handbook of Large Group Methods

"There is nothing more important in a complex, global interdependent world than to have some road maps and driving instructions on how to manage change in large systems. Bunker and Alban have provided the essential concepts of Large Group Methods, case examples, and, most important, prescriptions for how to manage large systems change successfully. This is a must–read for all enterprise managers."
Edgar H. Schein, Sloan Fellows Professor of Management–Emeritus, MIT Sloan School of Management

"This book offers an exceptional look at large group process, brought to life by powerful stories from real organizations and communities. There's no better way to understand the methodology and its potential. This extraordinary collection of stories demonstrates the power of large group processes in a variety of organizational settings. I can't imagine a better way to understand the methodology and its potential to impact organizations of all kinds."
June Delano, senior practice leader, The Monitor Group

"Using these methods and involving large groups of employees Working Together has been central to American's Turnaround Plan during these challenging times in the airline industry."
Jeff Brundage, senior vice president, Global Human Resources, American Airlines

Preface.

PART ONE: SETTING THE STAGE.

1 That Was Then, but This Is Now: The Past, Present, and Future of Large Group Methods.

PART TWO: SIX CHALLENGES FOR THE 21st CENTURY.

2 Widely Dispersed Organizations and the Problem of Involvement.

3 Organizations in Crisis.

4 Working in Polarized and Politicized Environments.

5 Working in Communities with Diverse Interest Groups.

6 Working Cross–Culturally.

7 Embedding New Patterns of Working.

PART THREE: RESOURCES FOR LARGE GROUP METHODS.

8 Resources for Large Group Methods.

The Authors.

Index.

Barbara Benedict Bunker is emeritus professor of psychology at the State University of New York at Buffalo. She has taught in executive development programs at Columbia, Pepperdine, and the Harvard University School of Education and has held Fulbright Lectureships in the business schools of Keio University and Kobe University in Japan.

Billie T. Alban is president of Alban and Williams, Ltd., and an internationally known management consultant whose clients include British Airways, Cathay Pacific Airways, Exxon, and Kraft/General Foods. She teaches in executive development programs at Columbia, the University of California, Los Angeles, and Pepperdine and has served on the board of the Organization Development Network.
Bunker and Alban are coauthors of Large Group Interventions from Jossey–Bass.