The models philosophy: ‘changing consultants’

Aaron C.T. Smith, James Skinner and Daniel Read

Chapter 5 in Philosophies of Organizational Change, 2026, pp 99-131 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: Chapter 5 examines the models philosophy, or the change interventions typically presented by consultants. The chapter introduces the context in which consultants are engaged, and how consulting models are deployed for change. It then details a series of the foundational models as a means to demonstrate their character and effects. The chapter's aim is not to provide an inventory of recent change models wielded by consultants, but rather to demonstrate how the models philosophy has shaped a kind of thinking and method. Many powerful and predictive models of change exist in literature, and an even greater number of bespoke models have been developed by consulting firms. Each offers up putative insights into ways to direct and initiate change in an organization. The chapter concludes that models must be utilized with care as many are contradictory or supported by minimal evidence, while others are underpinned by unchallenged hypotheses. It also explores how models are increasingly blended with behavioural insights, digital tools and adaptive frameworks to better suit complex environments. Consulting interventions now often combine structured models with iterative, human-centred approaches that reflect the evolving nature of organizational change.

Keywords: Models; Consultants; Frameworks; Interventions; Clients; Adaptability; Behavioural Insights (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781035372164
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.elgaronline.com/doi/10.4337/9781035372171.00008 (application/pdf)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:elg:eechap:24964_5

Ordering information: This item can be ordered from
http://www.e-elgar.com

Access Statistics for this chapter

More chapters in Chapters from Edward Elgar Publishing
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Jack Sweeney ().