Autumn 07 Cover.pdf

This editorial introduces a special themed issue of Organisations & People (O&P) journal focusing on the role of writing in leadership and change. The issue emerged from a collaborative process involving three overlapping networks: The Change Alliance, The OD Innovation Network, and The AMED Writers' Group.

The editors, Bob MacKenzie and Vicky Cosstick, highlight the significance of this anthology as it challenges professionals to scrutinize their use of writing in organizational development, leadership, and change management. They pose critical questions about effective writing practices, underlying theories, and the potential for sharing experiences and reflections to enhance professional awareness.

The editorial provides a context for the following articles which explore various aspects of writing in different organizational contexts:

- Authenticity and Presence: Vicky Cosstick discusses the importance of authenticity and presence in a consultant's work.
- Keyword Importance in Marketing: Neil Davidson examines the growing significance of internet search engines and data for business leaders and change agents.
- Complementary Forms of Writing: Rowena Davis explores how written reports, meetings, and slide presentations can complement each other for organizational learning.
- Reflective Writing and Learning: Alison Donaldson demonstrates the use of experiments in reflective writing and reading to stimulate learning and change.
- Co-operative Writing and Agenda Management: Peter Franklin proposes a theory of agenda management using co-operative writing to develop consensus during multiple change initiatives.
- Writing Interventions: Bob MacKenzie introduces a theory of writing interventions, highlighting their potential benefits and limitations.
- Letter-Writing as an Appraisal Tool: Robert Marsh discusses the application of letter-writing in an organizational context for manager appraisal.
- Screen-Based Writing: Paul Matthews explores changes needed in writing structure and formatting for screen-based communication.
- Reflective Writing and Organizational Anxiety: Hester O'Connor examines why anxiety remains a taboo topic in management literature and proposes using reflective writing to address it.
- Storytelling in Mergers: Tony Page shares his experience using stories to facilitate an African merger involving 500 staff across the continent.
- Pragmatic Writing in Complex Change: Gary Pass provides examples of writing used as a pragmatic response during complex organizational change.