Kurt Lewin's Unfreeze/Change/Refreeze Theory
Critical Elements
Kurt Lewin proposed the three stages necessary to bring about organizational change.
The three stages are unfreeze, change, and refreeze.
Stage I UNFREEZE
The Unfreezing stage is preparing the patient for a change before the change happens. It involves getting to a point of understanding that change is necessary, and getting ready to move away from the current way something is accomplished to a more productive way. The act of unfreezing is creating the motivation and readiness to change.
Stage II CHANGE
Helping the patient to see, judge, feel, and react to things differently, based on a new way of thinking that is more productive. Enact the change to achieve the more productive goal. People are more likely to change if they are well informed and active participants in the change. (Timmins, 2008)
Stage III REFREEZE
Ensuring the change becomes permanent entails helping the patient to integrate the new way of thinking into daily living, a new "habit". Refreezing is necessary to make the change permanent. (Kritsonis, 2004-2005)
The three stages are unfreeze, change, and refreeze.
Stage I UNFREEZE
The Unfreezing stage is preparing the patient for a change before the change happens. It involves getting to a point of understanding that change is necessary, and getting ready to move away from the current way something is accomplished to a more productive way. The act of unfreezing is creating the motivation and readiness to change.
Stage II CHANGE
Helping the patient to see, judge, feel, and react to things differently, based on a new way of thinking that is more productive. Enact the change to achieve the more productive goal. People are more likely to change if they are well informed and active participants in the change. (Timmins, 2008)
Stage III REFREEZE
Ensuring the change becomes permanent entails helping the patient to integrate the new way of thinking into daily living, a new "habit". Refreezing is necessary to make the change permanent. (Kritsonis, 2004-2005)