What Is A Change Agent?

Robbins [7:629] defines a change agent as a person who acts as an catalyst and assumes the responsibility for managing change activities. Gibson et al [3:457} see a change agent as a person or group who enters an ongoing organisation or part of the organisation for the purpose of facilitating the process of change. Ivancevich et al [5:484] describe a change agent as an individual or team of people whose main responsibility is to initiate, suggest and even force change efforts within an organisation.

A change agent, according to Firth: 

• advocates change; speaks up against the status quo.
• is highly future-oriented, always sees the future as different from the past.
• likes to take new paths to reach unchartered territory.
• is passionately convinced about what he or she does.
• looks at change as an opportunity.
• is part of a very influential minority.
• does not get discouraged easily.
• has a broad perspective; makes lots of connections.
• listens very well; is listened to.
• has the courage to guess and to trust his or her intuition.
• has influence beyond his or her place in the organisation; is not limited by position.
• has little respect for status in its own right.