Strategic change in Government Agencies influenced by Apollo and Zeus-two ‘Gods of Management’
| Published date | 01 January 1998 |
| Date | 01 January 1998 |
| DOI | 10.1177/095207679801300104 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
Strategic
change
in
Government
Agencies
influenced
by
Apollo
and
Zeus
-
two
'Gods
of
Management'
Marie
McHugh
University
of
Ulster
Abstract
This
paper
argues
that
many
Next
Steps
agencies
have been
forced
to
embark
upon
far
reaching
programmes
of
strategic
change
in
an
attempt
to
satisfy
externally
imposed
demands
for
enhanced
levels
of
efficiency
and
effectiveness.
However,
it
would
seem
that
the
management
of
the
entire
change
process
has
been
problematic,
and
has
been
characterised
by
disintegration
in
the
form
of
a
series
of
disjointed
organisational
initiatives.
Focusing
upon
the
experience
of
one
Next
Steps
agency,
it
is
argued
that
a
root
cause
of
the
problem
may
lie
in
a
rigid
adherence
to
an
outmoded
value
system
symbolised
by
allegiance
to
'Apollo'
the
Greek
god
of
order.
Thus,
to
effect
successful
strategic
change
within
government
agencies
it
is
suggested
that
they
must,
in
the
first
instance,
seek
to
foster
allegiance
to
a
new
and
more
dynamic
figure
in
the
form
of
the
Greek
god
'Zeus'.
Introduction
Drawing
upon
the
work
of
Handy
(1985),
this
paper
highlights
a
need
for
culture
change
as
a
fundamental
requirement
of
the
strategic
change
essential
for
enhanced
organisational
performance
within
Next
Steps
agencies.
In
his
book
'Gods
of
Management',
Handy
has
sought
to
categorise
organisations
according
to
the
gods
of
ancient
Greece
whose
values
and
interests
appear
symbolic
of
the
organisation.
These
values
and
interests
are
considered
to
symbolise
different
ways
of
managing,
and
the
cultures
which
exist
within
organisations.
For
example
Zeus
is
regarded
as
being
the
king
of
the
gods,
and
is
the
manifestation
of
dynamism,
creativity
and
innovation.
Meanwhile,
Apollo
is
a
more
sedate
character
who
represents
order
and
reason.
Referring
to
the
gods,
Handy
(1985)
argues
that
Apollo
and
Zeus
work
on
the
basis
of
different
assumptions
regarding
the
bases
of
power
and
influence,
the
factors
which
motivate
individuals,
how
they
think
and
learn,
and
how
things
within
organisations
can
be
changed.
These
assumptions
result
in
quite
different
Public
Policy
and
Administration
Volume
13
No.
1
Spring
1998
51
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