Skip to main content

Kim Cameron Changing the Study of Change: From Effectiveness to Positive Organizational Scholarship

  • Reference work entry
  • First Online:
Book cover The Palgrave Handbook of Organizational Change Thinkers
  • 5362 Accesses

Abstract

Kim Cameron, is a professor at the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan. During his career, he has generated several influential contributions that have shaped the field of organizational change. He has been a prolific researcher and writer, authoring 13 books and over 120 articles. Through his research, he has made deep contributions to a broad range of topics including organizational effectiveness, organizational decline and downsizing, organizational culture and the competing values framework, organizational paradox, organizational virtuousness, and positive organizational scholarship.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Bright, D. S., Cameron, K. S., & Caza, A. (2006). The amplifying and buffering effects of virtuousness in downsized organizations. Journal of Business Ethics, 64(3), 249–269. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-005-5904-4.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bright, D. S., Winn, B. A., & Kanov, J. (2014). Reconsidering virtue: Differences of perspective in virtue ethics and the positive social sciences. Journal of Business Ethics, 119(4), 445–460. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-013-1832-x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cameron, K. (1978). Measuring organizational effectiveness in institutions of higher education. Administrative Science Quarterly, 23(4), 604–632.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cameron, K. (1980). Critical questions in assessing organizational effectiveness. Organizational Dynamics, 9(2), 66–80.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cameron, K. S. (1981). Domains of organizational effectiveness in colleges and universities. Academy of Management Journal, 24(1), 25–47. https://doi.org/10.2307/255822.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cameron, K. S. (1986). Effectiveness as paradox: Consensus and conflict in conceptions of organizational effectiveness. Management Science, 32(5), 539–553.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cameron, K. S. (1994). Strategies for successful organizational downsizing. Human Resource Management, 33(2), 189–211.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cameron, K. S. (Ed.). (2010). Organizational effectiveness. Cheltenham/Northhampton: Edward Elgar.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cameron, K. (2012). Positive leadership: Strategies for extraordinary performance (2nd ed.). San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cameron, K. S., & Lavine, M. (2006). Making the impossible possible: Leading extraordinary performance – the rocky flats story (1st ed.). San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cameron, K. S., & Quinn, R. E. (1988). Organizational paradox and transformation. In R. E. Quinn & K. S. Cameron (Eds.), Paradox and transformation: Toward a theory of change in organization and management (pp. 1–18). New York: Ballinger Publishing Co/Harper & Row Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cameron, K. S., & Quinn, R. E. (2011). Diagnosing and changing organizational culture: Based on the competing values framework (3rd ed.). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cameron, K. S., & Whetten, D. A. (1981). Perceptions of organizational effectiveness over organizational lifecycles. Administrative Science Quarterly, 26(4), 525–544. https://doi.org/10.2307/2392338.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cameron, K. S., & Whetten, D. A. (1983). Organizational effectiveness: A comparison of multiple models (p. 1983). New York: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cameron, K. S., Whetten, D. A., & Kim, M. U. (1987). Organizational dysfunctions of decline. Academy of Management Journal, 30(1), 126–138. https://doi.org/10.2307/255899.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cameron, K. S., Freeman, S. J., & Mishra, A. K. (1991). Best practices in white-collar downsizing: Managing contradictions. The Executive, 5(3), 57–73. https://doi.org/10.5465/AME.1991.4274469.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cameron, K. S., Dutton, J. E., & Quinn, R. E. (2003). Positive organizational scholarship: Foundations of a new discipline (1st ed.). San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cameron, K. S., Bright, D., & Caza, A. (2004). Exploring the relationships between organizational virtuousness and performance. American Behavioral Scientist, 47(6), 766–790. https://doi.org/10.1177/0002764203260209.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cameron, K., Quinn, R., Degraff, J., & Thakor, A. (2014). Competing values leadership: Second edition (2nd ed.). Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Pub.

    Google Scholar 

  • Freeman, S. J., & Cameron, K. S. (1993). Organizational downsizing: A convergence and reorientation framework. Organization Science, 4(1), 10–29.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gittell, J. H., Cameron, K., Lim, S., & Rivas, V. (2006). Relationships, layoffs, and organizational resilience: Airline industry responses to September 11. The Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, 42(3), 300–329. https://doi.org/10.1177/0021886306286466.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Handy, C. (1995). The age of paradox. Boston: Harvard Business School Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hess, E. D., & Cameron, K. S. (2006). Leading with values: Positivity, virtue, and high performance. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 2006.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Lavine, M. (2014). Paradoxical leadership and the competing values framework. The Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, 50(2), 189–205. https://doi.org/10.1177/0021886314522510.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lavine, M., & Cameron, K. (2012). From weapons to wildlife: Positive organizing in practice. Organizational Dynamics, 41(2), 135–145. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.orgdyn.2012.01.007.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lawrence, K. A., Lenk, P., & Quinn, R. E. (2009). Behavioral complexity in leadership: The psychometric properties of a new instrument to measure behavioral repertoire. The Leadership Quarterly, 20(2), 87–102. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.leaqua.2009.01.014.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lewis, M. W. (2000). Exploring paradox: Toward a more comprehensive guide. Academy of Management Review, 25(4), 760–776. https://doi.org/10.5465/AMR.2000.3707712.

    Google Scholar 

  • Manz, C. C., Cameron, K. S., Manz, K. P., & Marx, R. D. (Eds.). (2008). The virtuous organization: Insights from some of the world’s leading management thinkers. New Jersey: World Scientific.

    Google Scholar 

  • Poole, M. S., & van de Ven, A. H. (1989). Using paradox to build management and organization theories. The Academy of Management Review, 14(4), 562–578. https://doi.org/10.2307/258559.

    Google Scholar 

  • Quinn, R. E., & Cameron, K. (1983). Organizational life cycles and shifting criteria of effectiveness: Some preliminary evidence. Management Science, 29(1), 33.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith, W. K., & Lewis, M. W. (2011). Toward a theory of paradox: A dynamic equilibrium model of organizing. Academy of Management Review, 36(2), 381–403. https://doi.org/10.5465/amr.2009.0223.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sison, A. J. G., & Fontrodona, J. (2015). Work, virtues, and flourishing: A special issue from the EBEN 25th annual conference. Journal of Business Ethics, 128(4), 701–703.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vaill, P. B. (1989). Managing as a performing art: New ideas for a world of chaotic change (Vol. xxi). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

    Google Scholar 

Further Reading

    Influential Articles

    • Cameron, K. S. (1978). Measuring organizational effectiveness in institutions of higher education. Administrative Science Quarterly, 23(4), 604–632.

      Google Scholar 

    • Cameron, K. S. (1980). Critical questions in assessing organizational effectiveness. Organizational Dynamics, 9(2), 66–80.

      Article  Google Scholar 

    • Cameron, K. S. (1981). Domains of organizational effectiveness in colleges and universities. Academy of Management Journal, 24(1), 25–47. https://doi.org/10.2307/255822.

    • Cameron, K. S. (1986). Effectiveness as paradox: Consensus and conflict in conceptions of organizational effectiveness. Management Science, 32(5), 539–553.

      Google Scholar 

    • Cameron, K. S. (1994). Strategies for successful organizational downsizing. Human Resource Management, 33(2), 189–211.

      Article  Google Scholar 

    • Cameron, K. S., & McNaughtan, J. (2014). Positive organizational change. The Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, 50(4), 445–462.

      Article  Google Scholar 

    • Cameron, K. S., & Whetten, D. (1981). Perceptions of organizational effectiveness over organizational life cycles. Administrative Science Quarterly, 26(4), 525–544. doi:10.2307/2392338.

      Article  Google Scholar 

    • Cameron, K. S., Whetten, D., & Kim, M. (1987). Organizational dysfunctions of decline. The Academy of Management Journal, 30(1), 126–138. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/255899.

    • Cameron, K. S., Freeman, S. J., & Mishra, A. K. (1991). Best practices in white-collar downsizing: Managing contradictions. Academy of Management Executive, 5, 57–73.

      Article  Google Scholar 

    • Cameron, K. S., Bright, D. S., & Caza, A. (2004). Exploring the relationships between organizational virtuousness and performance. American Behavioral Scientist, 47, 766–790.

      Google Scholar 

    • Freeman, S. J., & Cameron, K. S. (1993). Organizational downsizing: A convergence and reorientation framework. Organization Science, 4(1), 10–29.

      Article  Google Scholar 

    • Gittell, J. H., Cameron, K. S., Lim S., & Rivas, V. (2006). Relationships, layoffs and organizational resilience. Journal of Applied Behavior Science, 42, 300–328.

      Article  Google Scholar 

    • Lavine, M. H., & Cameron, K. S. (2012). From weapons to wildlife: Positive organizing in practice. Organizational Dynamics, 41(2), 135–145.

      Article  Google Scholar 

    • Pettigrew, A. M., Woodman, R. W., & Cameron, K. S. (2001). Studying organizational change and development: Challenges for future research. Academy of Management Journal, 44(4), 697–713. doi:10.2307/3069411.

      Article  Google Scholar 

    • Quinn, R. E., & Cameron, K. S. (1983). Organizational life cycles and shifting criteria of effectiveness: Some preliminary evidence. Management Science, 29(1), 33.

      Article  Google Scholar 

    Influential Books

    • Cameron, K. S. (Ed.). (2010). Organizational effectiveness. Cheltenham /Northhampton: Edward Elgar.

      Google Scholar 

    • Cameron, K. S. (2012). Positive leadership: Strategies for extraordinary performance (2nd ed.). San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler Publishers.

      Google Scholar 

    • Cameron, K. S., & Lavine, M. H. (2006). Making the impossible possible: Achieving extraordinary performance, the Rocky Flats story. San Francisco: Berett-Koehler Publishers San Francisco.

      Google Scholar 

    • Cameron, K. S., & Quinn, R. E. (2011). Diagnosing and changing organizational culture: Based on the competing values framework (3rd ed.). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

      Google Scholar 

    • Cameron, K. S., & Whetten, D. A. (Eds.). (1983). Organizational effectiveness: A comparison of multiple models. New York: Academic.

      Google Scholar 

    • Cameron, K. S., Dutton, J. E., & Quinn, R. E. (2003). Positive organizational scholarship: Foundations of a new discipline. San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler Publishers.

      Google Scholar 

    • Cameron, K. S., Quinn, R., Degraff, J., & Thakor, A. (2014). Competing values leadership: Creating value in organizations (2nd). Northampton: Edward Elgar Pub.

      Google Scholar 

    • Hess, E., & Cameron, K. S. (2006). Leading with values: Positivity, virtues, and high performance. New York: Cambridge University Press.

      Google Scholar 

    • Manz, C. C., Cameron, K. S., Manz, K. P., & Marx, R. D. (2008). The virtuous organization: Insights from some of the world’s leading management thinkers. London: World Scientific Publishers.

      Book  Google Scholar 

    • Quinn, R. E., & Cameron, K. S. (1988). Paradox and transformation: Toward a theory of change in organization and management. Cambridge, MA: Ballinger.

      Google Scholar 

    • Whetten, D. A., & Cameron, K. S. (2011). Developing management skills (8th ed.). Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall/Pearson.

      Google Scholar 

    Download references

    Author information

    Authors and Affiliations

    Authors

    Corresponding author

    Correspondence to David S. Bright .

    Editor information

    Editors and Affiliations

    Rights and permissions

    Reprints and permissions

    Copyright information

    © 2017 The Author(s)

    About this entry

    Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

    Cite this entry

    Bright, D.S., Lavine, M. (2017). Kim Cameron Changing the Study of Change: From Effectiveness to Positive Organizational Scholarship. In: Szabla, D.B., Pasmore, W.A., Barnes, M.A., Gipson, A.N. (eds) The Palgrave Handbook of Organizational Change Thinkers. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-52878-6_35

    Download citation

    Publish with us

    Policies and ethics