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Abstract

Subtraction neglect is a real problem in our lives and organizations. Additive change, increasing the number of activities, tasks, and goals, is the unrelenting norm. Subtractive change removes things. For people and organizations starved from bandwidth, and change scholars and practitioners seeking new capabilities, subtractive change offers opportunity to make organizational change both kinder to people and more effective. I offer a few ideas for promoting subtractive change in scholarship and practice: the difference between Virtuous Subtraction realizing value and Exploitative Subtraction deflecting burdens on to others; the essential roles of reflective practice, awareness of organizational history, and mindful attention to stakeholders in Virtuous Subtraction; and Anticipatory Subtraction where practices are time-marked with start and/or stop dates to call attention to opportunities for review and updating; and legacy-building practices to respect the value served by subtracted practices.

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What if Marie Kondo Wrote an Organizational Change Book? Making Space for Subtractive Change

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