In: Operations Management
Review the following questions and provide substantive responses. Make sure that you provide proper references and format the paper in the APA style.
1. When people talk about organizational change, what precisely is being changed and what forces lead to such change?
2. Suppose that you are a top executive of a large organization about to undertake an ambitious restructuring plan that involves massive changes in job responsibilities for most employees. Explain why people might be resistant to such changes and what steps could be taken to overcome this resistance.
Answer 1= When we talk about the change in the organization, the different things that are changes may include the changes in man, machine, material, and method. Man includes the various issues and aspects related to the manpower of the organization It can include the change in their skills, capabilities, job profiles, responsibilities, role. In case of a machine, we deal with the technology, The company can think of changing the used technology, while the method will include organization practices and procedures. The material can also be changed that includes the raw materials and other assets used in the organization.
There can be external and internal factors that can initiate the change in the organization, These can include customers, competitors, government policies, environment, internal policies, political and social factors, change in leadership style, change in a business plan and so on are the main factors that can induce the organizational changes.
Answer 2= When there will be a change in the job responsibilities of the employees in the organization, it will create a lot of ripples and resistance from the manpower. This is due to the fact that the employees will treat it as a threat to their existence in the organization. They will think that this can lead to their lay off from the organization. Apart from this, most of people feel comfortable working in the status quo and any possible change in that will upset them and they will start to oppose any possible change.
There will also be the chance that the employees have to undergo some sort of training and they have to put their best again on the new responsibilities, thus can result in discomfort to them. The new job responsibilities will throw the individual in the sea of uncertainties and therefore they will start opposing any possible change in the job responsibilities.
The following 6 methods can be used to deal with the opposition to change-
The attempts must be made to educate and communicate with the employees The manager must tell them the logic and benefits behind the change in job responsibility
The manager must participate an involve with the employees in any sort of discussion and explain to the employees of how they can accommodate the possible change in the job responsibilities.
The manager must provide the opportunities to the employees to understand their new job responsibilities and if they face any problem, proper assistance will be provided
Once this is done, no the manager must provide some impetus for those who agree to follow the proposed change and negotiate with those employees who are still opposing the change.
If some proposals and suggestions of the employees can be accommodated, then it should be done so that the employee also feel satisfied
At last, the manager must use explicit and implicit coercion so that the employees can be taken on board with the possible change in job responsibilities