Power Dynamics and Organizational Change - Assignment Example

Organizational Change Plan Introduction Army life is always fascinating for everyone who prefers an adventurous life. The handsome salary, the social status one can derive etc. are some of the factors that attract the youngsters to military services. Though the men in olive green are paid well, they are often deprived of adequate mental and physical care. Such a deprivation is not the fruit of a deliberate effort, but circumstances make it so. In their brisk life in the warfronts and calamity affected areas they have to give priority not to themselves but to their people. Despite all the facilities assured, they are plainly ill-treated with substandard food and facilities (Russian Soldiers Sick, Hungry). When a person is emotionally under stress what he needs is the care and consideration of his family. But, an ordinary soldier in his early years of service is not permitted to take his family along with him unless he is an officer. This is what makes difficult the life of a soldier. While realizing these unconcealed facts the educated youths of modern era prefer to revisit their prior decision. This should not happen as the fate of a country rests with its dynamic youths. So, it inevitably requires some sort of structural changes in the entire organization. For this things must be changed from their present state of affairs. Places where transformation is sought First of all, as Mundell (2007) points out, depression and stress are the unrecognized problems of a number of soldiers returning from war fronts. To illustrate, while some of them feel they are treated as guests at their own homes, others feel estranged as their children do not respond warmly to them. According to the writer, if they do not feel the support of their family members and the warmth of the love of their dear ones, they have greater difficulty in recovering from the symptoms of depression. So, measures should be adopted to accommodate the families, at least the wives of the soldiers with them. Moreover, soldiers are suffering from stress which is a result of frequent combat operations. As they are also flesh and blood they may become upset on seeing destroyed houses, dead bodies or on the event of the death of their colleagues or even for being directly responsible for the death of some enemy soldiers. In this regard, every soldier must be availed the assistance of a counseling expert as and when he requires. In order to help this, psycho care units can be started alongside cantonment areas. No commander or superior must be entitled to hold back this right of soldiers. Any soldier who has some severe emotional damage must be evacuated to a fitting place for further health check. It will do well to bring the stress down in his community as well as personal life. However, the primary duty of a soldier is to protect and fight for his nation. So, changes to be made should not affect the role to be played by him. Another important crisis is the detrimental relationship between superiors and the men under their command. There is always a chance for skirmishes between commanding officer and his men as they are not satisfied with the commands placed and orders made by the officer. But on certain occasions the superiors themselves have a tendency to humiliate their men for silly matters. Instead of giving a word of praise for a remarkable work done, they are ruthlessly reprimanded even for a microscopic slip-up. When such humiliations cross the boundary, the soldiers either end up their lives or shoot at their own officers and colleagues. It is a matter of serious concern as such incidents are numerous. In order to curb this, as in any organization, a separate personnel grievance redressal forum should be established in the military set up. As the head of the forum is an expert in HR related matters it will be of tremendous help in solving out all personnel related affairs. Mean while, soldiers who are of lesser ranks should be considered as junior officers and they must also be included in taking strategic decisions like business organizations use the approach of Management By Objectives (MBO). Some barriers to these proposals It is quite natural that human beings have a desire for affiliation with their loved ones. As far as the soldier fighting in the war front is concerned, his prime consideration is the security of his country and his people. There he cannot wish for the presence of his family. Moreover, the enemies may aim at their family members as they know that the best way of mentally discouraging the valor of a soldier is not hurting himself but his people; so, it involves high risk as his family can get harmed easily. And it may also cause huge public expenditure as the government has to set aside reasonably good amount to accommodate the families of all soldiers. In spite of all these, such a facility may be availed soldiers who are engaged in peace areas. It is a possible suggestion to give out an expert psychologist to assist the soldiers when they feel emotionally embarrassed. But even here encounters a problem that the psychologist who is assigned will surely be an officer according to the military rules. He will also have to fight the enemy as his fellow men do. So, all the problems that the soldiers may face are applicable to the psychologist also. In addition to this the establishment of psycho care centers requires the approval from higher authority particularly from the government. While discussing the detrimental relationship between commanders and junior officers, nobody can suggest the superior to be liberal as an officer who is extra ordinarily participative may be acceptable by his men but not necessarily be successful as a shrewd officer. Similarly, an officer can’t always be participative as the decisions taken are often unexpected in nature. Factors influencing proposed changes 1. Occurrence of need for change: If the need for such a change does not occur to the people concerned, nothing will work out. 2. Intervention of proper authority: Intervention of proper authority is an important factor that influences the proposed changes. Unless and until the authority turn their ears to miseries, proposals may remain in the papers. 3. Cooperation of junior officers: It is the normal soldiers who form the core of a troop. The suggested proposals are mainly for them. They all must understand this in the same sense and manner and endeavor bearing this in mind. 4. Availability of funds: Availability of funds is another factor. If there is inadequacy of funds all these proposals would be in vain. What shows organizational readiness for a change? As mentioned on the onset, if defense service is considered to be an organization, soldiers amounts to the vital resource i.e.; human resource. If human resource is not handled properly, the organization cannot meet its objectives. So, priority must be given to them that their pleadings are heard without any delay. The primary aim of the organization must be employee welfare. When employees understand they are well considered, they will contribute their maximum towards organizational goals. The same principle is applicable in the case of soldiers too. Theoretical models related to the changes Theoretical models are important while talking about organizational changes. They are deemed to be unproblematic if the changes proposed are simple and communicable. However, as stated in Boonstra (1998), this is not a personal power model of organizational change as any leader himself can’t impose these changes. On the other hand, according to the writer, it moves to structural power model as the emphasis moves away from power of individuals to power of inter dependant groups in the system. Here it is evident that any single person cannot bring about change in the organization but a concerted effort of both the organization and the government can do that (100-104). Internal source available The defense force of any country will be teeming with exuberant, dynamic and well qualified officers. So, it is easy to find out adept HR executive and psychologist from officers themselves. Conclusion Thus, while concluding we may fervently wish for all the suggested changes to take place for soldier is a person who sacrifices all his pleasures for his nation. As he lays down his today we have our tomorrow, as he lays down his life we have our lives. So he must be given adequate care and consideration. Therefore all these proposed changes are inevitable. References Boonstra, J. J. (Ed.). (1998). Power Dynamics And Organizational Change. Netherlands: Psychology Press. Mundell, E. J. (August, 17, 2007). “Depression Taking Toll on Returning US Vets”. Healthday. Retrieved from http://news.healingwell.com/index.php?p=news1&id=607359 “Russian Soldiers Sick, Hungry”. (n.d.). democraticunderground .com. retrieved from http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x219006 Read More