Girolamo Savonarola

Paper Summary:

This paper examines the case of Girolamo Savonarola, an Italian Dominican priest and leader of Florence from 1494 until his execution in 1498. The first part of this work provides an example of resistance to organizational change in contemporary organizations and conversely, as a catalyst for organizational change. He was known for anti-Renaissance preaching, book burning, and destruction of what he considered immoral art - thus the changes brought about by the Renaissance... but he vehemently preached against what he saw as the moral corruption of the clergy - perhaps a precursor to the protestant reformation. The paper then applies this Renaissance example to contemporary organizations for management of renewal, rediscovery, invention and creativity. The paper maintains that this will assist emerging leaders in their development of new perspectives and strategies to bring health, the dynamics of creative thinking and energy to today's organizations.

Outline:
Objective
Girolamo Savonarola
Example of Resistance to Change in the Organization
Resistance Defined
Vision in Leadership
Fear of Failure
Challenging the Status Quo
Communicating the Vision
Leadership Model
Empowering Others
Transformational Leadership
Summary & Conclusion

From the Paper:

"The work of Albert F. Bolognese (2002) entitled: "Resistance to Organizational Change" states that change in today's economy "is all-pervasive in organizations." Change is continual and "often at a rapid speed" and "because change has become an everyday part of organizational dynamics, employees who resist change can actually cripple an organization." Bolognese states that it is critical that management "understand, accept and make an effort to work with resistance" because otherwise resistance has the power to "undermine even the most well-intentioned and well-conceived change efforts."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Arnold, Jack L. Dr. (nd) Church History: The Reform Before the Reformation. Medieval Church History, Part 4.
• Bolognese, Albert F. (2002) Employee Resistance to Organizational Change. Online available at: http://www.newfoundations.com/OrgTheory/Bolognese721.html
• Kotelnikov, Vadim )2008) Transformational Leadership: Implementing New and Continually Improving Yourself and Things and Those Around You. Business-e-Coach. Innovation Unlimited 2008. Online available at: http://www.1000ventures.com/business_guide/crosscuttings/leadership_transformational.html
• Lloyd, Joan (1998) Resistance to Organizational Change MIS-Management Issues and Solutions. DM Review Magazine, March 1998. Online available at: http://www.dmreview.com/issues/19980301/697-1.html
• Puritan in Florence. Time 21 July 2008. Online available at: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,857236-1,00.html

More papers on Girolamo Savonarola:

• Research Paper # 107108 : "Apocalyptic Spirituality"
• Analytical Essay # 111481 : "Botticelli's "The Mystic Nativity"

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