Why Change Management Is Such a Hot-favorite Topic in the Field of Management - Essay Example

? 3 July Change Management Employees in New York, Paris, and Tokyo would prefer the communication to take place online. “Economically advanced countries are adopting many new communication tools which can improve their economic and social circumstances” (An Educational Computer”). Videoconferencing, e-mail, and Skype are some of the most liked means of communication, particularly because of the fact that the USA, France, and Japan are advanced countries. Although the employees in New Delhi and Nairobi would also like to have a virtual communication system in place, they are used to communicating through letters, drafts, and memos, though more and more organizations in these cities are also implementing virtual and online communication strategies. “While participation in Internet doubled from 1982 to 1992…the irony is that the key communication technologies are, at best, in their infancy in developing or less developed countries” (Olaniran 65). Many companies in such developing countries as India and Kenya are reluctant to change the communication practices that have been in use for decades. However, as the workforce is getting more trained and educated, a positive change is expected and has already started to show up in many organizations in these countries. An effective way to reduce the employee resistance is by allowing them to get involved and participate in the change management process. This can be achieved if the employees are taken into confidence. Managers should develop and engage the employees in unfreezing activities. “Unfreezing activities normally involve group activities designed to confront existing group behavior. These may take the form of training interventions, team talks, evangelical speeches, or some other form of activity” (Collins 60). Managers should arrange meetings with the employees where they all can be addressed at once. Managers should ensure that all employees attend the meeting. In the meeting, the managers should explain the need of introducing the change to the employees and why and how the old system is not letting the organization achieve its objectives. The managers should not only demonstrate the need of change but also show how individualistic efforts of the employees working at different levels in the organization will contribute to the organizational success. A very important point that a manager should keep in mind while addressing the employees is not to underestimate or overlook the role of any employee in the change introduction and the management process. Ideally, the manager should encourage the employees to come up with ideas that could further enhance the manager’s plan of introducing and managing the change. Constructive ideas should not only be appreciated but also be incorporated into the change implementation process. This would serve as an incentive for other employees to share their positive opinions with the manager and also boost their confidence as well as motivation to help the manager implement the change. “Participatory measures such as team working and high-involvement work practices demonstrate improvements in performance…Performance changes may occur because participation leads to changed attitudes which lead to higher performance” (Summers and Hyman). Before conducting the meeting, the manager should try to identify the employees whose interests would be affected by the introduction of change, and tend to modify the change plan in a way that causes minimum loss to those employees while enhancing the overall efficiency of other employees and the organization as a whole. However, “[i]n any change, especially ones that affect a complete organization, it is impossible to involve every employee in each decision” (Heathfield), so the manager should not change the plan in an attempt to satisfy everyone. Once the employees have been sufficiently addressed and convinced through such meetings, the manager should constantly review and modify the process of change implementation and its consequences as per the need of the hour. There has been a tremendous change in my attitudes to change management over the course of the semester. Before, I did not really know why change management is such a hot-favorite topic in the field of management or why organizations need to change so frequently. I thought that organizations succeed because of a stable and continuous system. I did not have any idea how important change is for any organization, particularly today, when new technology and work processes are being introduced all over the world. “Organizational change whether planned or unplanned responds to pressures and forces both inside an organization and from the external environment” (Alas 28). After taking the course, I have realized that change introduction and management is fundamental to the obtainment of competitive advantage over other organizations with common goals. Before, I also did not really believe there can be a way to overcome the employees’ resistance to change, but now that I have studied numerous ways of reducing employees’ resistance, I believe that adequate management and strategies can not only reduce the employees’ resistance but also change their attitudes in a way that they start taking participation in the change management process. I took this course in order to learn and train management skill and to become acquainted with appropriate management strategies so that when I enter the workplace, I will have sound theoretical knowledge of management. Although management is to a large extent an inherent capability, yet one requires proper education and training in order to optimize one’s corresponding skills. Management concepts discussed in the books are supported by years of research and experience of the authors, which must not be overlooked. They must be read and understood thoroughly to be applied in practical work. This is how we can benefit from the knowledge of others and be good managers at the very start of our professional careers. After completing this change management project, I have learnt various strategies of effective change management and the skills required to manage the changes, including the literary and social skills, as well as to manage the challenges a manager may be exposed to while introducing and managing the change. On the whole, it has been a great learning experience for me. Works Cited Alas, Ruth. “The Impact of Employee Participation on Job Satisfaction During Change Process.” Problems and Perspectives in Management 5.4 (2007). n.pag. Web. 3 July 2012. . “An Educational Computer Communications Program For Unions in Developing and Emerging Market Countries.” International Labor Organization. 2001. Web. 3 July 2012. . Collins, David. Organizational Change: Sociological Perspectives. USA: Routledge, 1998. Print. Heathfield, Susan M. “Change Management Lessons About Employee Involvement.” About.com. 2012. Web. 3 July 2012. . Olaniran, Bolanie A. “Communication, Technology and less Developed Countries’ Economic Development.” Communication 25.1, 2. (1999). n. pag. Web. 3 July 2012. . Summers, Juliette, and Jeff Hyman. “Employee Participation And Company Performance: A Literature Review.” Joseph Rowntree Foundation. 21 Mar. 2005. Web. 3 July 2012. . Read More