John Paul Kotter is a professor at the Harvard Business School

Harvard Business School

Harvard Business School is the graduate business school of Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts, United States and is widely recognized as one of the top business schools in the world. The school offers the world's largest full-time MBA program, doctoral programs, and many executive...

 and author, who is regarded as an authority on leadership

Leadership

Leadership has been described as the “process of social influence in which one person can enlist the aid and support of others in the accomplishment of a common task". Other in-depth definitions of leadership have also emerged.-Theories:...

 and change. He outlines eight steps that organizations need to implement to successfully change:

1. Create a Sense of Urgency:

“When people have a true sense of urgency, they think that action on critical issues is needed now, not eventually, not when it fits neatly into a schedule.