KURT LEWIN MODEL: ASSUMPTIONS AND IMPLICATIONS:Change Movement, Refreeze

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LESSON # 3

KURT LEWIN MODEL: ASSUMPTIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

Theories and models are always based on some set of assumptions. This model too has some basic

assumptions which are as under:

1. An Individual or group performance is prone to regression unless some measures are taken to

institutionalise the improved performance level

2. There is a tension in person whenever a psychological need or intent exists, and the tension is

released when the need or intention is fulfilled.

3. This tension may be positive or negative, and under conflict situation this is identified as "force

field". Hence the term is known as force field analysis so as to evaluate the tension between

positive or facilitating forces and negative or constraining forces the given change plan.

Further to him there are three fundamental types of conflict.

1. Individuals stand mid-way between two positive goals of approximately equal strengths; for e.g.

individual has to choose between two good systems, so which one to buy.

2. Individuals find themselves between two approximately equal negative goals; for e.g. if an

individual has to make a choice between two things which he dislikes, that is a choice of lesser evil.

3. Individuals are equally exposed to opposing positive and negative forces

These assumptions about motivation process and conflict typology in human nature lead Lewin to

propose three staged model of a planned change management process.

1. Unfreeze

2. Change

3. Refreeze

Stage 1. Unfreeze the current equilibrium:

Before going for change in first stage we have to create tension amongst the recipient of change

that some thing is not good in the on-going system. This is to create emotional stir up which is to

break the shell of complacency and self righteousness amongst the subject of change. The reason is

to break the personal defences and group norms psychologically before actually going for change.

In the words of Edgar Schein this stage consists of the following attributes:

1) The physical removal of the individuals being changed from the accustomed routines, sources of

information and social relationships

2) The undermining and destruction of all social support.

3) Demeaning and humiliating experience to help individual. Being changed to see their old attitude

or behaviour as unworthy and thus motivated to change. Here I would like to give example of

ragging of new entrants from military training. New entrants are deliberately targeted for their

existing behaviour, norms and identity by the senior cadets so as to acquire new way of thinking

and sociology. More over they are deprived of social support as training academies are situated at

far off places and candidates are not permitted to meet their family members

4) The consistent linking of reward with willingness to change and of punishment with

unwillingness to change. Old behaviour is punished and new or desired behaviour is to be

rewarded. There would not be any meaningful change if the change targets perceive no linkage of

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reward and the desired behaviour, or if the old behaviour and norms are continued to be rewarded.

For Schein Unfreeze stage must simultaneously coupled with the following characteristics:

1. Disconfirmation of expectation

2. Induction of learning anxiety if the disconfirming data are accepted as valid and relevant. There

would not be any need felt for change and learning one thinks he has already perfect knowledge,

and stays confident. In other words one feels discomfort able with the existing system, performance

level knowledge or state of affairs. Similarly if there is no learning anxiety individuals are least

pushed for change as they getting satisfaction from the existing ones. This is also known as mind

blockage when people refuse to accept new or changed reality or they are in a state of disbelief and

refusing to learn the new things.

3. Provision of psychological safety that converts anxiety into motivation to change. If anxiety gets

converted not fear it will be creating resistance for change. Therefore anxiety should be strong

enough to be a source of motivation for change

This point is very critical and crucial because if we admit something with ourselves as wrong we

will loose effectiveness, self efficacy, self-esteem or even our identity. Therefore in order to learn

one has to be humble. Learning will be lower for individual with higher self esteem and vice versa.

Two types of change:

1) Action level or Symbolic

2) Belief or Cognitive

Comparatively speaking change in beliefs or belief system which is also identified as cognitive

restructuring brings in more sustainable and meaningful change than symbolic and action type of

change. Shock therapy in psychology is one such technique for changing belief of a patient. This

kind of treatment is very common in our social settings. For instance in parents-child relationship is

based on the severity of event if father slaps his son to make him stop doing certain things. The

concept of punishment is also a kind of shock therapeutic technique for behavioural modification.

Similarly in real life certain events change the attitude of a person. This has application in

management too. For instance organization going deficit the fear or shock of close down or job-cuts

may motivate individual and groups to change and work for turn around. While action level or

symbolic type manifest at extraneous to individual and at times is short lived and reflect merely a

compliance in outward actions of individuals or organizational practices only

In order to unfreeze mental programming is good for reducing resistance. Similarly in this stage it

is suggested to establish performance-reward linkage without which change would not be

sustainable. A very simple and powerful technique for motivating for change is to induce reward

for performer and no reward or punishment for non-performer. This is perhaps one very good

reason for change efforts to meet failure in a typical public sector organisation because in such

organization senior executives fail to cultivate or make people perceive such linkage to exist.

Because in public sector organizations all managers (good or bad) get same increment, promotion

or other benefits based on seniority or on the length of service. Therefore very convincing reforms

fail to bring in behavioural change because these reforms meet with failure at the very first stage as

these are unable to even unfreeze the situation

2. Change Movement

This means a movement from existing to the desired form. It is a state of transition or

transformation which depicts neither an old state nor a new state of affairs. This is very critical

stage as it may either way backward (in case of failure) or forward. According to one author the

time or stage in transition is known as "crazy period". Generally in this phase individuals and

organizations try to cope up simultaneously both systems; existing and the desired one. The

transition process is usually not very smooth, neat and clean process rather entails upheavals.

Important thing is to follow the desired objectives or system in a consistently. Ambiguity and

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parallel work of old and new has to be tolerated. Initial productivity of new system is considered to

be lower than the previous system.

The process is to occur through two mechanisms:

i) Identification when role models are there in the environment, for e.g. individuals who can

easily follow the footsteps of role model and in context of organisation the popular term is bench

marking following the best practices of the industry leaders. Nations also tend to identify other

nations as their model for economic or socio-political development. For instance economic

development strategies of far eastern states like Korean and Chinese are cited to other developing

countries for economic development. In the field of political and constitutional development often

USA and UK are identified as the most democratic and political mature societies.

ii). Internalisation. Knowledge exists most of the time at external level. The most critical aspect is

how to internalise knowledge, therefore just identification and mere knowledge is not enough. Here

internalisation refers to the behavioural aspect of the recipient According to one version only that is

considered to be knowledge which is part of one's behaviour (reflected in action). Therefore going

by this criteria knowledge of good practices is not enough unless good practices are practiced.

Movement from one stage to another stage is initiated by trigger event and manager's

personalisation of trigger.

Mood and disposition

3. Refreeze

Once the new objective or desired state of affairs has been achieved the problem with this phase is

to institutionalise the new system so that people might not revert back to the older ways of doing

things. The purpose in this phase is to stabilize new learning. This can be done through behavioural

reinforcement. In this stage again the effectiveness of performance reward linkage is considered to

be the part of enabling environment. New behaviour is to be internalised. Important note here is that

effects of many training programmes and lectures are short lived when a person returns to the

environment that does not reinforce. Hence continuous and intermittent reinforcement is needed.

Another example from real life is that Pakistanis are known as highly productive abroad but back in

their own society they are known as work shruggers, the difference is on account of enabling

environment. Therefore in order to refreeze the new behaviour, system or equilibrium we have to

provide enabling environment.

Application

The model can be applied to all three levels to explain change management phenomenon; societal,

organizational and individual. For instance our society in over all analysis is in transition phase.

Older things, system and traditions have been unfrozen, but we have yet to learn the dynamics of

new systems as the productivity of newly learned behaviour is at lower level than the traditional

system. The society is in transition from agrarian to industrial, rural to urban and traditional to

modern. Members of such a society face a situation of role overload and role conflict bears

attributes of both systems. We have unlearned our traditions but yet to learn modern productive

traits. This transition reflects what is identified by one author as `crazy period'.

At organizational level we can take the example of organization undergoing automation

programme. Therefore first thing is to unfreeze the mindset of managers by creating dissatisfaction

about the existing system file work or manual work. So creating discomfort amongst members of

organization about lower level of productivity, creating sense of urgency and instilling fear of

lagging behind in competition, enlisting perceived benefits for motivating managers are various

techniques for unfreezing. During the second phase of change movement once the decision is taken

for automation leads to multiple problems of learning, training, jobs and position displacements,

hiring of computer technologist, budgetary allocations etc will create unease and tensions in the two

types of system; manual and automated one. At this stage it seems that previous system was better

in terms of efficiency and productivity as this reveals numerous problems with newer systems. Key

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to successful transformation lies in staying consistent, learning from mistake and tolerating

ambiguity. And finally in the refreeze stage people get accustomed to newer system as learners and

performers are rewarded. Newer behaviour and work ethics are internalised.

Similarly at individuals also undergo through the same stages like when they have to learn new

knowledge, skills or values which are considered to be more productive. First in unfreezing stage

resolving intra-individual conflict or tension, envisioning the desired state and dissatisfaction with

existing levels of knowledge, skills or values. Second is to take actual steps and moving into crazy

period or transition phase which is demanding in terms of learning new habits, values and

commitments. Once the success is achieved individuals needs to programme internalise or refreeze

the newly learnt values.

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