Contesting organisational change: CSIRO, the media, and other stakeholders

There are important opportunities to further develop public sector organisational change research. This thesis analyses a contested science prioritisation change at the Commonwealth Scientific Industrial Research Organisation, which is part of the public sector. The study’s purpose is to investigate the media’s ability to affect organisational change outcomes and to provide learnings and insights about the management of change. The research shows the importance of engaging external stakeholders early; the need to consider the interest and values of the media; and the importance of alignment between the type of change being made, and the method used to manage the change.