Graded Discussion Board (GDB) No. 2, Due Date 26 January.

[Muhammad Jawad]

FALL 2015

Graded Discussion Board.02

ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT (MGMT628)

Due date: January 26, 2016

Topic: Organizational Change & employees  

Objective of the activity

The prime objective of this discussion is that students will become aware about the possible resistance in change and how it can be handled.

Learning outcomes

After attempting this activity, students will be able to:

1.      To know the possible reasons against change

2.     Tentative strategies to tackle this resistance against change  

The premise

Detox Pvt. Ltd. is a manufacturing company dealing in automotive parts. The management has decided to convert its operations towards more advance machines. The labor is not very much happy with the change as it requires more training and change in shifts and working hours. It also requires change in supply chain and processing. The resistance from labor is expected during training workshop as well.

Point of Discussion

In your opinion, why labor is reluctant in operating with advance machines? Also suggest three strategies to deal with resistance for effective change in operations.

Marking Scheme

 The total marks of this discussion are 5. Avoid irrelevant text/material and lengthy discussion; be precise and stick to the topic.

Note:

For acquiring the relevant knowledge, do not rely only on handouts but watch the course video lectures and read additional material available online or in any other mode.

Important Instructions:

·         Your discussion must be based on logical facts.

·         The GDB will open and close at above specified date and time. Please note that no grace day or extra time will be given for posting comments on GDB.

·         Use the font style “Times New Roman” and font size “12”.

·         Your answer should be relevant to the topic i.e. clear and concise.

·         Do not copy or exchange your answer with other students. Two identical / copied comments will be marked Zero (0) and may damage your grade in the course.

·         Books, websites and other reading material may be consulted before posting your comments; but copying or reproducing the text from books, websites and other reading materials is strictly prohibited. Such comments will be marked as Zero (0) even if you provide references.

·         You should post your answer on the Graded Discussion Board (GDB), not on the Moderated Discussion Board (MDB). Both will run parallel to each other during the time specified above. Therefore, due care will be needed.

·         Obnoxious or ignoble answer should be strictly avoided.

·         You cannot participate in the discussion after the due date via email.

·         Questions / queries related to the content of the GDB, which may be posted by the students on MDB or via e-mail, will not be replied till the due date of GDB is over.

·       For planning your semester activities in an organized manner, you are advised to view schedule of upcoming Assignments, Quizzes and GDBs in the overview tab of the course website on VU-LMS.

Note related to load shedding: Please be proactive

Dear students!

As you know that Pre Mid-Term semester activities have been started and load shedding problem is also prevailing in our country now a days. Keeping in view the fact, you all are advised to post your activities as early as possible without waiting for the due date. For your convenience; activity schedule has already been uploaded on VULMS for the current semester, therefore no excuse will be entertained after due date of assignments, quizzes or GDBs.

[+ M.Tariq Malik]

Please Discuss here about this GDB.Thanks

Our main purpose here discussion not just Solution

We are here with you hands in hands to facilitate your learning and do not appreciate the idea of copying or replicating solutions.

[Muhammad Jawad]

Resistance to change can be a huge problem

Change is not the problem – but resistance to change can be a huge problem. In the 1920s, H.P. Lovecraft said:

“The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown.”

This quote, said over 90 years ago, still holds true today when it comes to organizational change!

Managing change has always been difficult and will always be fraught with danger because it is so easy to introduce change the wrong way. So the logical question to ask is if there is a perfect way to introduce and manage change. The answer is no. There is no universal solution which applies to all change programmes.

Organisations are different, the reasons for change are different, timescales and budgets are different.

Each change programme will have to be implemented on its own merits. But there are things we can do to reduce the level of resistance. Ways to reduce resistance to change:

#1 – Be timely

Announce an impending change as quickly as possible – rumors start very quickly. Delivering bad news is one of the biggest challenges managers face.

#2 – The need for change

Find lots of ways to demonstrate why the change is necessary. Change management require acompelling change story – communicating it to employees and following it up with ongoing communications and involvement.

#3 – The past

You should make statements that honor the work and contributions of those who brought such success to the organization in the past, because on a very human but seldom articulated level, your audience will feel asked to betray their former mentors – whether those people remain in the organization or not. A little good diplomacy at the outset can stave off a lot of resistance.

#4 – Watch for staff reaction

Look for signals that something is not going well with the new change. Rather than trying to force a change, find out what staff doesn’t like about it. Work with their concerns or even rethink the proposed change. Change means a new way of doing things and most people are fearful of the unfamiliar. Provide assurances that there will be support and time to become familiar with the new change. It takes a while for people to adjust.

#5 – Change management should be like a dolphin, not a whale

One of the biggest roadblocks to a successful implementation of change in a business is getting the people “in the trenches” to not only understand what is coming but also to agree with what’s happening. When applied to organizational change, the “whales vs. dolphins” concept involves dividing change into a series of short steps or phases – similar to how dolphins breathe.

 

 

#6 – Involvement 

Involve interested parties in the planning of change by asking them for suggestions and incorporating their ideas. If people are involved in change and understand the reasons for it they become supportive of the whole idea and the change process.

If people are given the opportunity to take responsibility and accountability for certain parts of a change programme their sense of ownership will make them even stronger advocates.

#7 – Increase engagement by asking questions

Have you ever been “talked at” instead of had someone “talk with”? It doesn’t feel good to have someone talk at you. It leaves you feeling like you might as well not have been there at all. It is much more powerful asking questions. Increase engagement by asking questions when leading change.

#8 – Communication

Lots of it. Change is unsettling because it brings with it an element of uncertainty. And it is the uncertainty which is a major cause of resistance  to change. People can relate to facts – good or bad – but uncertainty and contradicting messages breed unease and resistance.

Therefore, it is important to communicate with everybody about everything in relation to the upcoming changes in order to reduce the uncertainty. Use any communication channelsavailable and remember that it is impossible to over-communicate  change.

 

Each change programme will have to be implemented on its own merits

Click to tweet

 

#9 – Use social media

Social media platforms are ideal mechanisms to facilitate change because much of change management boils down to ongoing conversations and dialogue in a company.

Business leaders should start asking how can social media platforms help achieve business objectives beyond marketing: shaping company culture, strengthening change management initiatives, improving execution of corporate strategy, facilitating corporate communication, and increasing employee engagement.

#10 – Storytelling

Storytelling can be a powerful tool when you want to drive organizational change. Good leaders tell stories that “cast” them and their organizations as agents of change, rather than defenders of the status quo.

As a leader, you cannot eliminate fear, abolish uncertainty or avoid the prospect of change for your company. But you can leverage these emotional navigational stakes to your greatest advantage by telling a purposeful story.

#11 – Training programs

Deliver training programs that develop skills that is needed to support “the new way”.

#12 – Create small wins

Large change management problems are best broken down into smaller ones with concrete achievable goals. Otherwise it can be so overwhelming that solutions seem unattainable – therefore, people often avoid tackling them or come up with single, grand programs that fail. Don’t forget to pour champagne on it.

#13 – Don’t change for the sake of change

Continual change leads to resistance. Making a change for the purpose of shaking things up makes it more difficult to get acceptance of necessary changes. Save your energy for more important changes.

#14 – Don’t be afraid to change your mind

Some changes don’t turn out as well as others. Why not say “forget it”. Nothing is gained by forcing staff to accept a change they know isn’t necessary.