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Case studies of a select group of organizational and social change practitioners who utilize a total systems change approach to address social diversity and social justice issues in organizations

Ann Elizabeth Driscoll, University of Massachusetts Amherst

Abstract

The purpose of this study was two-fold: (1) to develop an enriched understanding of the visions that guide a select group of organizational and social change practitioners, and (2) to develop an enriched understanding of the strategies they employ to enact those visions. The following cases were explored in this study: Case #1: Bailey W. Jackson and Rita Hardiman--Multicultural Organizational Development. Case #2: Frederick A. Miller, Judith H. Katz and Catherine S. Buntaine--Creating High Performing Inclusive Organizations$\sp{\rm SM}$. Case #3: Elsie Y. Cross--Managing Diversity. The six participants in this study are pioneers in their field. Their work consists of the synthesis of a specific organizational change methodology--a total systems change approach--with a social change agenda. Their intent is to challenge institutionalized oppression and to create healthy socially diverse and non-oppressive organizations. Their efforts are helping to advance the production of theory and the development of a practice for utilizing a total systems change approach to address social diversity and social justice issues in organizations. The data collected for this study was drawn from qualitative methodologies. The source of data collection included elite, open-ended, in-depth interviews, observation of the participants and review of pertinent documents. An interview guide was utilized to outline topic areas that were covered in each interview. The basis for data analysis was a thematic approach. The outcomes of this study reflect the four themes that emerged during data analysis: (1) A profile of this select group of practitioners, (2) Their perceptions of the emerging practice of working with social diversity and social justice issues in organizations, (3) The shared qualities of the visions that guide their work, and (4) Descriptions of the total systems change strategies that they employ to create organizational and social change.

Subject Area

Education|Bilingual education|Multicultural education|Social studies education

Recommended Citation

Driscoll, Ann Elizabeth, "Case studies of a select group of organizational and social change practitioners who utilize a total systems change approach to address social diversity and social justice issues in organizations" (1993). Doctoral Dissertations Available from Proquest. AAI9316644.
https://scholarworks.umass.edu/dissertations/AAI9316644

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