The Ripple Effects of Change
Updated: Sep 19
In our own workplaces, we can see the complex web of teams and relationships we are all a part of. A change in how one team does its work can lead to hundreds of customers contacting the call center with questions or concerns. A new policy from the legal team can dramatically change the sales department’s approach to generating and closing leads.
This web is at the heart of systems thinking: where an organization is viewed as a complex, interconnected web in which a change in one part can ripple throughout the entire system. What may seem like a small, isolated decision can have significant effects on teams, customers, and processes far beyond where the change originated.
Maslaha (مصلحة), or public benefit, refers to the idea that our work should ultimately contribute to the well-being of the broader community and to help prevent harm. When we apply this principle to organizational change management, we can understand the importance of change leaders thinking beyond their immediate goals and that they should consider how their decisions affect the entire ecosystem of people and teams that surround them.
Consider this: Before making a change, do you ask yourself: Who else will feel the ripple? What unintended consequences might this create?
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