Motivating Employees to Respond Positively to Organizational Change: Applying Organizational Theory

Before you start writing you will need to identify an organisation that you either work for at the moment or have worked for in the past. If you have never worked for an organisation, then you will need to choose an extracurricular organisation you are involved in, or an alternative organisation that you know a lot about, in terms of what happens within the internal organisation environment (e.g. an organisation your parent/partner works for). If you are having problems choosing an organisation please discuss this with your unit lecturer.  

When you have chosen your organisation, you then need to answer the following question:

“How can line management motivate employees to respond positively to organisational change?”

To help you answer the question, you need to use ONE organisational theory (from the list below).

You will need to apply the chosen theory to your organisation.

2. Organisational Theories (Choose any one):

a) McKinsey’s 7-S Model (organisational change)

b) Amabile & Kramer’s inner work life theory of Motivation (work motivation)

c) Goal Setting Theory (work motivation)

3. When applying key organisational theory remember that:

• Organisational change is best understood in terms of the complex relationship between the 7-S’s (strategy, structure, systems, style, skills, staff and shared values) (McKinsey’s 7-S model)

• The7z’s can help an organisation to examine the effects that organisational change will have within the organisation.

• Management styles, play a role when implementing change within organisations (Autocratic vs. Democratic)

• “Process Theories” of motivation have serious implications for how managers can motivate employees. Motivation can be influenced! (Locke & Latham, Amabile & Kramer)

4. Report Details:

You need to write a report, which includes each of the following sections:

a) Briefly Introduce the organisation you have chosen to write about (5%)

b) Briefly introduce the key theory or theories that will underpin your report (5% of marks)

c) Answer the question by applying the key theory to your chosen organisation (40% of marks)

d) Provide a critical evaluation of the theory (30% of marks)

e) Make recommendations for specific organisational changes, that is changes your organisation should make; (based on your answer and critique) (20%)

You need to ensure your report:

a) Is closely linked to the key academic theory throughout.

b) Is within the requested word limit of 2,000 +/- 10% words.

c) Uses a suitable report structure (including executive summary)

d) Is well presented and professional

e) Uses good grammar, spelling and punctuation

Uses BSU Harvard Referencing as detaile