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Abstract
This is a strategic analysis of intentional change and organizational development as seen in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. My daughter received this book, along with the rest of the collection, for Christmas this year. Of course, as a Potter fan, I could not help but read them again myself. Once I got to the Order of the Phoenix, I was shocked at the amount of organizational development that was explored by Rowling. I had read the book previously, but it had not dawned on me until now how closely Rowling followed Kotter's eight step method, providing both positive and negative examples.
Introduction
In book five of her Harry Potter series (Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix), J.K. Rowling writes three distinct instances in which intentional cultural change was introduced to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry1. First, Delores Umbridge, representative of the Ministry of Magic, attempts to bring about shocking changes to the school by using the power of her government agency. Perhaps a bit more subtly, Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley, and Harry Potter implement their own change while Umbridge is working on her attempt. Finally, at the end of the book, the headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, is able to sweep in and rectify the catastrophe brought about by Umbridge.
At the beginning of Potter's fifth year at Hogwarts, Umbridge accepts an appointment to Hogwarts. Her appointment is to fulfill a dual role. First, she is to fill a vacant teaching position at the school. More importantly, however, she is instructed to evaluate the teaching staff and is given nearly autonomous authority to make changes to said staff as she sees fit. She uses this authority to attempt to integrate Ministry control over the students and staff at the school.
Umbridge immediately meets with active resistance from the students. Her imposed ideals clashes with the existing culture and, therefore, are rejected out of hand. Her attempts are also rejected by the teaching staff, although this resistance is more passive in nature. One change Umbridge implements is to refocus Defense Against the Dark Arts lessons. Due to various (unfounded?) concerns held by the ministry, she approaches the lessons from a pure theoretical perspective, forbidding any sort of...