Managing Change: Critical Evaluation and Practical Approach

Identification and Critical Evaluation of Reasons for Change Initiatives Failure

You are currently working as a change manager in an organisation looking to process re-engineering due to the issues highlighted below.

As can be anticipated, this involves a significant amount of change in order to improve several pressing issues e.g.

• The organisation did not have clear and effective processes for managing employee performance

• A number of staff did not have adequate business critical training

• There were many complaints that the management did not ensure staff and teams had the knowledge to carry out their roles

• Quality improvement activity had not taken place due to the perceived lack of management interest

Task 1: Identify and critically evaluate why a reported 70% of change initiatives fail to meet their original objectives. (40%)

Task 2: Using Kotter’s eight-step model, identify how you will practically manage the above change. (50%) Report presentation and referencing. (10%)

Learning outcomes assessed

2. Explore and critically appraise strategies and methods used for the planning and management of change.

4. Develop a plan to effectively manage a specified change.

Ensure you use the correct report format:

• Cover page with index

• Executive summary (please note a ‘summary’ of the key recommendations forthe CEO)

Please note:

• The word count should be 3000 words (+/- 10%)

• You may include appropriate graphics to support your points if you consider they will add value to your answer

• This is not to be written as an ‘essay’

• Cover page, Exec Summary, References and Appendices are NOT included in the word count)

• You must use academic theory and other robust sources to support your text, and any theory used should be applied to the context of the scenario

• You must use in-text citations to evidence your work, in addition to producing a full list of references in the bibliography. All of these should conform to Harvard Referencing format.

• The bulk of this text should be your own original work and should not be excessively paraphrased.

• A poor answer (39% and below (Fail) misses the point of the task and fails to address the requirements listed in the brief, either entirely or to a significant degree. Expression is simplistic and vague. The answer is unstructured and also fail to use any academic support, with no citations or reference list in evidence. Answer demonstrates no analysis question and is simply a templated solution taken from other sources. Answer lacks significant originality.

• A basic answer addresses some of the issues and demonstrates limited knowledge of appropriate theory, but at a superficial level. It demonstrates difficulties with structure and contains some gaps in understanding. Expression lacks maturity and use of professional terminology. The material is not arranged in a user friendly, logical format. The delivery system of the programme is be unclear and there are minor inaccuracies in any financial information.

• A satisfactory answer addresses a large amount of the questions and demonstrate a sound, basic knowledge of theory, but with some minor omissions in content and minor inaccuracies in expression. Structure is largely logical. There is an attempt to analyse and evidence that the solution has been tailored to a fair degree. Use of theory and evidence is reasonably good but with room left to strengthen the credibility.