Skip to main content

When Change Happens by Lalit Jagtiani - Book Review

When Change Happens - A story of organizational transformation is a fictional take on change by Lalit Jagtiani.

The book is a very useful and interesting take on Change Management. It throws light on techniques and ways to effectively address difficult and complex organizational issues.



The authors put into practice Peter Senge's research and principles of Learning Organization to weave a very likable read. He has created a fictional company which is facing situations like so many companies are facing today. Lalit Jagtiani has put into use his own experiences to use to craft the story of Matt who goes about leading a transformation at his workplace.

It is not an easy task as humans by nature resist change. To motivate them and to make them understand why change is important is a daunting task. The reader learns through Matt how he goes about convincing people about change and also about transformation, a bigger task than change. He first undertakes the training himself and when he is absolutely ready, he goes about 

The storytelling technique he uses makes a seemingly complex topic simple and people who do not studiously follow business trends would also find it easy to absorb. A book full of jargons and heavy use of management terms would have been difficult to read. But the way the author has simplified everything as a story makes it a comprehensible read. A must read, for business managers irrespective of their stature in the company's hierarchy.

Change management is a study which leaders and managers cannot ignore anymore. If they put their mind to it, it is a fascinating subject. If applied correctly and rightly it can produce a positive impact on an organization and address multiple issues it faces. It may be sagging sales, or low morale of the personnel, or general complacency, change management can be an effective study to confront these.


About the Author

Lalit Jagtiani is a business transformation specialist. He has led and managed organization transformations for customers across Asia Pacific. Currently, he works with the top customers of SAP to drive innovation and transformation for digital initiatives that create new business value. . He is a Certified Master Coach, Organisation Learning; Certified Trainer, BTM2, the Transformation Methodology of SAP; a Certified Trainer in Performance Coaching and a leading practitioner of Design Thinking.


Pages 237
Published by Lalit Jagtiani

Comments

Also read

Cutting people off isn’t strength—It is a trauma response

Your ability to cut people off and self-isolate is not a skill you should be proud of—It is a trauma response Cutting people off and self-isolating may feel like a protective shield, but it is often rooted in unresolved or unhealed trauma and an inability to depend on others. While these behaviors seem like self-preservation, they end up reinforcing isolation and blocking meaningful connections. Confronting these patterns, seeking therapy, and nurturing supportive relationships can help break this unhealthy cycle. Plus, a simple act like planting a jasmine plant can symbolise the start of your journey towards emotional healing. Why do we cut people off and isolate? If you’re someone who prides themselves on “cutting people off” or keeping a tight circle, you might believe it’s a skill—a way to protect yourself from betrayal, hurt, or unnecessary drama. I get it. I’ve been there, too. But here’s the thing: this ability to isolate yourself is not as empowering as it may seem. In fact, i...

Does India need communal parties?

I think, it was Tan's post on this blog itself, Republic Day Event, where this question was raised. My answer. YES. we need communal parties even in Independent, Secular India. Now let me take you, back to events before 1947. When India was a colony of the British Empire. The congress party, in its attempt to gain momentum for the independence movement, heavily used Hinduism, an example of which is the famous Ganesh Utsav held in Mumbai every year. Who complains? No one. But at that time, due to various policies of the congress, Muslims started feeling alienated. Jinnah, in these times, got stubborn over the need of Pakistan and he did find a lot of supporters. Congress, up till late 1940's never got bothered by it. And why should we? Who complains? No one. But there were repercussions. The way people were butchered and slaughtered during that brief time when India got partitioned, was even worse than a civil war scenario. All in the name of religion. And there indeed was cr...

Sex without intimacy: A Spill the Tea story about modern loneliness

Tara meets someone through a matrimony broker. They quickly decide marriage isn’t on the table, but spend a night together anyway. What follows isn’t regret or drama, but an unsettling emptiness. Over tea and samosas, she tries to understand why physical closeness left her feeling more alone than before. Spill the Tea: When Closeness leaves You Feeling Further away The tea was too sweet. Tara noticed it immediately but didn’t say anything. She sat on the verandah chair, one foot tucked under the other, the plastic creaking every time she shifted. She wore a black cotton top with sleeves pushed to her elbows and denim shorts that left her knees bare to the evening air. She didn’t look uncomfortable. Just slightly unfinished, as if she’d left in a hurry. Between us, a steel plate held two samosas, already cooling. The chutney had begun to darken at the edges. She broke a corner of the samosa. The crust flaked onto her plate. She dipped it into the chutney, carefully. “You know,” she said...