Strategy web

You use the strategy web in discussing their perspectives on the change strategy and to improve the steering of the change process. The strategy web shows the perspectives of the board of directors, the management and the employees, although other categories are also possible. Usually a small group is responsible for steering the change (the board of directors or a project organization). The 'receivers' of the change often interpret this group's actions differently from how they were intended

The strategy web shows how people experience the steering of the change. The points and the axes indicate the degree to which people think each of the five change strategies are used. A point located near the center of the web signifies little use of the corresponding strategy. A point towards the outside of the web means considerable use of the corresponding strategy. By connecting the points, a figure becomes visible. A particular change strategy can be considered dominant if the resulting figure points in the direction of that strategy.

By distinguishing the various groups, you can see if their views on the change strategy being used correspond or differ. This example shows how the board of directors claims it is looking for interaction by means of the Development and Dialogue strategies for change, while the employees think the board is prescribing what needs to happen via a top-down use of the Power strategy. The management takes a middle position, thinking that things are happening step by step via a Planned approach and that Negotiations are taking place about the interests of the groups involved

In discussing the strategy web, the parties involved give examples that they feel are illustrative of the dominant change strategy. After a collective interpretation, alternatives for a better or different way of managing the change process can be explored. An appropriate strategy will depend on both the change issue at hand and the context of the organization in question.