Towards demokratia ‐ myth and the management of organizational change in ancient Athens

Suggests that a systems approach to the management of organization change is something most business schools assume to be a recent development. Presents a 2,500‐year‐old example of an extremely successful systemic transformation, one which provides a useful stimulus to aid thinking in this field today. Of particular interest is the ancients’ appreciation of an aspect which is often paid little mind in modern systems interventions ‐ organizational mythology, and the notion that perhaps the most important aspect in managing change is providing continuity.