What is the Change Style Indicator?

(an excerpt from the DLI Change Style Indicator Facilitation Guide © 1996, 2015 Discovery Learning International.)

The Change Style Indicator (CSI) is designed to capture an individual’s preferences in approaching change and in dealing with situations involving change. Results of this instrument place an individual on a continuum ranging from a Conserver orientation to an Originator orientation. A Pragmatist orientation occupies the middle range of the change style continuum.

The closer an individual’s score is to one end of the continuum, the stronger the preference for that “change style”. True pragmatists score in the middle ranges.

Change Style Preference

While psychometric assessment can serve as a valuable tool for understanding self and others, it can also be misused. The CSI has no right or wrong, “better” or “worse” style or score. There is no preferred place to be on the change style continuum. Successful people know that different work situations and circumstances require different types of responses. To respond most effectively to a given change situation may require an individual to behave in a manner that is outside a personal change style comfort zone. While preferred style is a characteristic of personality, actual response to a change situation is the choice of the individual. When a participant understands their own personality and change style and the current situation, it is easier to “go against the grain” if necessary and choose a response which produces a desired outcome.

The CSI is designed to capture an individual’s preference in approaching change. The results of the CSI will place participants on a continuum ranging from a Conserver style to an Originator style, with the Pragmatist style occupying the middle of the continuum. The closer to one end of this continuum, the stronger the preference for a conserver or originator approach to change. The closer to the centre of the continuum, the greater the preference for a pragmatist approach to change. Scores on the CSI represent strength of preference, not degree of effectiveness or proficiency at utilising a particular change style. Individuals may display preferred conserver, pragmatist, or originator behaviours which are either highly effective or highly ineffective. The CSI indicates preference, not effectiveness or skill at utilising a preferred change style.

Conservers

Conservers prefer current circumstances to the unknown. The goal of a conserver is to better utilise resources, people, technology, knowledge, capital while preserving the existing system and structure. Conservers prefer change that is gradual and incremental. At its best, this style is characterised by gradual and continuous improvement.

Originators

Originators prefer a faster and more radical approach to change. The preference of originators is significant, expansive change which occurs quickly. The goal of an originator is to challenge existing systems and structure, resulting in fundamentally different, even systemic changes. Originators represent the reengineering approach to improving efficiency and effectiveness.

Pragmatists

Scores in the middle ranges describe the Pragmatist style. Pragmatists may be comfortable with both the conserver and originator styles, depending upon the circumstances of the situation. Pragmatists are likely to advocate for change that is more reflective of the current situation, i.e., more context-based change. Pragmatists prefer change that is functional. They are most interested in what will work in a given situation. Pragmatists prefer to explore existing systems and structure in an open and objective manner, whereas conservers and originators tend to approach current systems and structure with preconceived preferences for either preserving or challenging the status quo. However, even within the pragmatist range, the more a score lies toward either the conserver or originator end of the continuum, the more a pragmatist will display a change style preference consistent with that end of the continuum.

The Change Style Indicator Feedback Report

The CSI feedback report provides a guide to understanding CSI scores, enabling participants to:

• manage response to change and its consequences, both as leaders and as support persons
• understand sources of conflict associated with change and the relationship between that conflict and preferred change style
• recognise and appreciate contributions that each change style offers to teams and to organisations
• increase productivity through awareness and effective response to change style differences
• respond to the needs and styles of others in a way that enhances collaboration and builds team and/or organisational synergy
• assess environmental factors surrounding a change and select the most appropriate change response

Are you ready to improve your organisation's change management capabilities? Consider incorporating the Change Style Indicator into your change management toolkit. To learn more about the Change Style Indicator, or to explore how this tool can benefit your organisation, please contact us.