Equations behind successful change: M2 = D2

M2 = D2

If people Do what people always Did, you Get what you always Got                              (Stefan van Aalst)

A good equation is usually simple and beautiful and is perfectly capable of explaining itself. This is definitely one of them.
In equations behind successful change: D² = G² I ended with question what the strange attractor is in people's behavior. The underlying assumption is that by changing the strange attractor, people will start to behave differently and thus will produce on an ongoing basis better results.

"Tell me how you measure me, and I will tell you how I will behave."
Eli Goldratt

The way people are measurements and that affect people's behavior comes from management.

The most striking examples that underwrite this the difference if the change was envisioned and executed by the manager or by somebody from outside.

If the change was envisioned and executed by the manager, the manager usually quite naturally changes how the people are managed. Most of these changes are successful and lasting.

If the change was envisioned and executed by an outsider, the manager usually remains doing the things he usually did. The effect is that people that initially changed they way they worked, are 'forced' to work according the 'old rules'. These changes are usually not that successful and last even less.

Interesting to take into account is that a manager quite often is managed as well. When this is addressed, changes of successful change go up. However, there is usually one more important item missing and that is expressed in the equation: I² = M^2.

The Science of Change:

• D² = G²: If people Do as they always Did, you Get what you always Got (anon.)
• M² = D²: If people are Managed as they where always Managed, people Do what they always Did (Stefan van Aalst)
• I² = M²: If managers are Informed as they were always Informed, managers will Manage in the way they always Managed (Stefan van Aalst)