This is the story of change in a public agency – the maintenance division of a county public works department.  It’s an important story because it tells how involving the whole system in change from the beginning supports lasting change, how consultants and clients learn together through a flexible action research approach, and how keeping ownership of change with the client contributes to the continuation of change after the consultant leaves the scene.  The story is also about the courage of working men and women to face tough issues, learn new ways of working, and stay a long and uncertain course to transform their organization.