Change Management Strategy - Kraft Food - Case Study Example

Table of Contents Introduction 2 Change Management Strategy 2 Result 4 Change Management according to me 6 Future Learning 9 Conclusion 10 References 12 Introduction Change management is an integral part of business and organizations that are unable to change slowly get wiped with time. This has made organizations understand the importance of organizational change and look towards changing with the changing external and internal environment. This is supported by literature findings which support that businesses that are able to change are able to ensure better opportunities of growth. This was an aspect which was looked into during the educational program and helped us to shape the manner in which the organizational change holds an important aspect of business by looking through various methods like group case study, relevant change management theory, and reflections upon relevant personal experiences of organizational change which helped to understand the concept better. Change Management Strategy The case on Kraft Food showed the importance of change management which is supported by a study which states that while looking towards organizational change through acquisition or merger business needs to ensure that cultural integration takes place as the differences between their patterns of being influenced moulds the way the person behaves as a result of which it results in creating differences which needs to be dealt with so that the business grows (Ralston, Hallinger, Egri & Naothinsuhk, 2005). The group understood the manner in which change management was implemented in our group as I had to change the manner in which I perform and was primarily due to the fact that changing ensured better results for the group which helps to reflect different relationship between employees, friends and others (Deresky, 2011, p. 168). Since, this aspect required concentrating on all aspect of the changing environment and looking towards understanding the different aspect like situational analysis, this helped us to understand the manner in Kraft Food highlighted the importance of change management for business. This helped me realize the different aspect of change management which needs to be laid stress on and developing a framework ensures that the goals of the organization is easily understood. The aspect of change management helped to understand the requirements of the company while dealing with changes. Steps should be taken to ensure that the change is accompanied by a structural or framework change in the manner the business is conducted so that the business is able to ensure timely change in the business (Frambach, Prabhu & Verhallen, 2003). I also understood the importance of change management which the professor used to continuously say during the lectures. I understood that being able to manage the changes and developing a strategy through which the business is able to ensure changes helps the team and other players to develop the business accordingly. This understanding will help me in the future as it will help me to use the learning experience to further enhance my knowledge during my professional life. This has been further substantiated by a study which states that organizations have to look towards providing the required training and design programs which helps the employees to understand the importance of organizational change and look towards framing a system through which changes takes place (Franco, 2009). This ensures that the people are able to accept the changes and ensure that they are able to adjust with the changing environment. One of the most important things that a person should possess along with the above mentioned quality is flexibility. This makes the person change according to the circumstances which results in better decision making. This helps a manager to make changes in his pattern of working and keep abreast with the changes the world is facing. The overall learning from the lecture was phenomenon and it highlighted various important areas which were ignored by me. Developing and building on those areas will help me to take better decision and become a better manager in the future. Result The concept of change management also helped me understand the importance of communication so that the business is able to understand the manner in which the external environment is changing and the business needs to understand those and change so that the business benefits. I also understood the fact that change management look towards both the internal and external situation while looking to decide on the method or product most profitable for the business. This is an aspect of change management which business has to ensure and look towards using different change management theory so that the business is able to make the required changes in their process of doing thing. The manner in which the program was developed and knowledge imparted helped me to understand the subject better. The use of case study methods which allowed us to look into real world examples and present our views and solutions to the situation helped me understand the manner in which decisions in the business is taken. The case study on Kraft food was an important area which helped to understand the manner in which business has looked towards changing the manner with the changing external environment so that the business is able to ensure better strategy through which the business benefits over a long period of time. This strategy broadened my horizon as it helped me to understand the importance of other factors which are external to the organization. I realized that being able to deal with the external conditions and using the strengths and core competency of the business to its strengths helps the business to succeed. The learning helped us to ensure that the role of different department in the organization is to ensure that they are able to make a strategy through which they ensure that people from different organizational changes are implemented together and ensure that it matches with the business requirements. This will ensure that people to the organization come together and understand the importance of organizational change while dealing with different situations (Yukl, 2009). Change Management according to me The change management theory helped me to understand the manner in which information has to be gathered so that the process of change management can be prepared which will help efficiency in the process. This will ensure that the business able to deal with the cultural differences in a better way and will also ensure that the decisions taken includes the other culture as well (Jay, 2010). This highlighted the importance of ensuring that the change management theory is incorporated and the employees are taken into consideration. The lecture program on change management which looked towards various aspect of the changing environment was a great learning curve as the program was designed in such a manner that it helped to understand the different aspect of change management by concentrating on different theories and concepts. This helped to change my insight regarding the manner in which change management was important for organization. I previously had a notion that identifying a particular type of strategy which the business benefits should be used continuously and no change in required then. I was wrong as to ensure consistent performance it is important that business looks towards changing continuously so that the business is able to improve their performance. The lecture brought forward the fact that the biggest obstacle comes from employees so organizations looking towards change management needs to look towards developing a strategy through which they are able to persuade the employees to changes (Yamamura, Birk & Cossitt, 2010). Since, employees are the back bone for the business and ensuring that they change with the changing time makes it important to ensure that the employees understand the benefit of changes and ensuring it will help the business to make the changes and ensure better productivity. The mechanism which was adopted during the course was also very effective as in the beginning the course focused on theoretical knowledge and then looked towards the practical application of those (Ross & Eeden, 2008). This helped me to understand the subject better as I was able to use the learning and substantiate my work. This helped me understand things better and being able to use the learnings and sing its application has helped me a lot. It has made me understand the practical application of the theories and in the future I will be able to ensure that I use to develop my knowledge further and will greatly benefit me in my professional life. The case study method which helped us to work in group and implement the learning’s of change management to improve the performance of the business was a great learning curve as it helped me to understand the manner in which change management techniques have to be used. This can be seen by the fact that regular feedback that we used to receive from the professor. In the beginning I didn’t give much importance to it and thought that it was useless. With the passage of time and deeper understanding of the subject I realized that the feedback provided to me by my professor was helpful as those were applied in the case studies and presentation. This helped me understand the importance of the different aspect of change management which is gaining relevance and with the passage of time I will be able to use it in a better way. Being able to gauge the practical application of the learning will ensure that in the future I am able to use it in the correct directions and for situation which demands those. This has thereby changed the manner in which I look at organizational change and has helped to frame a mechanism which will help better use of the techniques in the future The manner in which the course was designed and look towards highlighting the manner in which the different tools have to be used was an area which ensured major changes that were required. The lectures on change management skills were very useful and it helped me gain insights into various management domains which were present in me but I was unaware about it. The part which got my maximum attention was the manner in which values affect management decision. This made me ponder on situations which had happened to me and I had to choose among options but my values helped me at that time to choose the correct option. The lecture also helped to draw important insights into the manner body language affects decision. This was an aspect which I used to ignore but being able to understand the manner it affects decision making and influences people amazed me. The emphasis got stronger when the chairman of Kraft Food used his body language to influence people and got various work done in his favor. Future Learning The lectures helped to develop an understanding on the manner external and internal environment affects decision making and to be able to take the correct decision it is important to consider both this factors. An interesting aspect of the lecture was the manner in which emotional intelligence influences decision making. I learned the fact that people who is able to control his emotions and understand the feelings and emotions of other is able to take better decision. The lecture on change management also helped me to understand the manner in which conflicts that the business has to encounter during the change management process needs to be dealt with. This lecture helped me ponder on a situation which I had encountered before and the manner I handled it. I was caught in a situation where while working in the group my friend was hesitant that his view point was correct and the best of all. The other members resisted but since my other friend had a dominating nature he was dominating them and the final result was poor decision making as the group didn’t work together to solve the issues. This helped me understand the importance of change management so that the business is able to implement a strategy through which I can ensure timely changes in the business and ensure proper mechanism through which the business will be able to ensure better results. The manner in which the lecture of organizational change was developed and the use of case study like Kraft food helped me to work on the different aspect of business which will help to ensure better change management in the business. This helped me to understand the manner in which the business have to ensure that the organization understand the manner in which the business have to change their strategies so that the business is able to grow. Conclusion Thus, the overall learning from this course has been great as it has concentrated on different areas which have helped me to understand the subject marketing better. This will help me in the future endeavour and help me to deliver better and superior results in my professional life and help me to deal with things in a better way. Since, the lecture was designed in a manner which looked into different aspect of change management it helped me to understand the importance of implementing changes in the organization so that the business is able to grow. The understanding of the different organizational change theory has helped me to understand the different aspect of change management which can be used in the future so that the business develops. Thus, the manner in which the knowledge was provided has broadened my horizon and will help me in the future in implementing changes in the organization so that the business is able to grow and ensure better strategies for the future. References Frambach, R., Prabhu, J. and Verhallen, T. 2003. The influence of change management strategy on new product development: the role of market orientation. International Journal of Research in Marketing, 20 (4), pp. 143-153 Franco, G. 2009. Training and development in an era of change management. Journal of Management Research, 9 (1), pp. 37 Jay, J. 2010. Lead & Motivate: not just your team but yourself too in case of change management. Super Vision, 71 (6), pp.11 Ralston, D., Hallinger, P., Egri, C. & Naothinsuhk, S. 2005. The effects of culture on work place strategy of upward influence in change management, University of Bangkok, Elsevier Inc Yukl, G. 2009. Managerial Leadership. Journal of Management, 15 (2), pp. 251-289 Yamamura, J., Birk, C. & Cossitt, B. 2010. Attracting & Retaining Talent: The importance of first impression especially during change management. The CPA Journal, 80 (4), pp. 58 Read More