Managing Change - L.J - Essay Example

Hayes explains that the major objective of change is to bring about a sustained efficiency in resource usage in achieving company objectives. Much of Hayes views of managing change are little more than an application of common sense and good management practice. He further states that if managers take a systematic approach to implement change, they can be more successful in taking colleagues with them and achieving their objectives. He identifies four factors for success when implementing change within one organization, which are: The senior management in an organization must demonstrate the need for change so as the line managers and junior employees can emulate.

Commitment to change is very essential and must also be demonstrated by the top managers. Hayes feels that for this change to succeed and achieve the desired goals management should be consistent with what they aspire to achieve that is "they should walk and talk" but if the top leadership is not consistent with ideas, those who are supposed to implement the change will not be motivated. Since leadership is getting others to do what you want them to do because they want to do it. Pressure for change should be a driving force, the leadership must identify the need for change, make the decisions to proceed with change and.

Hayes believes that for success in managing change regardless of where the original pressure for change came from, senior management commitment and drive for change is essential if momentum is to be maintained for effective implementation. The rest of the organization will need to be convinced of the need and the case for change. Everyone in an organization including the chairman, chief executive officer and other employees must be collectively behind the sought changes in the organization. The senior management must be seen to be fully supportive by what they do and say both privately and publicly.

If, However, senior management "talk-the-talk" by failing to back up their statements with action and continuous commitment. Hayes believes that the progress towards the sought change will soon stall. In addition if the senior management fails to remain fully supportive of the project other conflicting or new priorities will emerge and the momentums can be lost. The senior management should be signed up to the change and communicate it to the other staff. The other staff should be given an opportunity to feed in their contribution and feel that they have joint ownership of the change being implemented.

A Clear Shared Vision For change to be effective, it needs to be implemented at all levels and should be in the culture of the organization. The management must understand what motivates other employees in order to keep them together and motivated. Since change is a major cause of stress amongst the workforce and staff usually responds differently they need to be motivated to support the changes that are to be implemented. Staff, their managers and senior mangers are all