Question

Can you further compare and contrast two different diagnostic tools presented from our textbook for this week that you would wholeheartedly believe would work well on managing change within your certain kind of business, industry and/or organization? Are these the best tools for your organization and/or industry? Can you further elaborate with any kinds of examples catapulting, trumpeting areas of concern based on the diagnostic tools coursework?

Answer 1

Leavitt's Diamond and McKinsey's 7s framework are among the diagnostic tools that are used by an organization in change management. Leavitt's Diamond mainly consists of four components that are essential in making any shifts in an organization efficient. The four elements consist of task, technology, people, and structure. The concept was developed by Dr. Harold Leavitt a professor in Stanford University and Claremont at the time of conceptualizing. A change in one of the component would have a change on another element was the central concept in the tool that he developed. Leavitt's tool has been used by many organizations in managing changes that occur in the institution (Thakur, 2013).

Changes made to the employees in the organization affects the tasks to be assigned to them. Technology is adapted especially when computer literate is hired, and structure of the organization also changes. The same occurs to the other components when changes are made too. It is, therefore, essential for an organization to consider how changes will affect the team and how to manage them (Thakur, 2013). On the other side, McKinsey's 7s Framework, that consist of 7 elements that are essential in ensuring efficiency of an organization's structure is an advanced tool. They include staff, systems, shared values, structure, skills, style, and strategy. All the seven components are usually intertwined in a way that changes occurring to one part bring changes to the whole system. Its main aim is to manage changes that an organization can make, the merger of different organizations can be possible, can help in the implementation of the new strategy and assist in determining how the institution can change in future (Singh, 2013).

            The two tools are similar to each other as they help in managing changes in the management of the organization and help come up with solutions problems happening in the institution. Such tools are also the best tools to be used in the organization as they are very effective and simple to use in an organization (Thakur, 2013).

References

Singh, A. (2013). A study of role of McKinsey's 7S framework in achieving organizational

excellence. Organization Development Journal, 31(3), 39.

Thakur, S. (2013).Brighthub Project Management: A Look at the Components of Leavitt's

Diamond.