Leading a Continuously Changing Organization
Scholars have not agreed on which change model is best to implement within an organization. All change theories must consider the diverse population and the type of leadership style of the leader who will lead the change. This paper discusses several foundational theories of change. Next, the essay discusses how effective the change models would be working with a diverse population. Last, the paper explores different leadership styles along with the authors leadership style and how those styles work with the different change theories.
Foundational Theories
The timing of an occurrence forms the significance of an occurrence (Staudenmayer, Tyre, & Perlow, 2002). Organizations have hired CEOs that
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The precontemplation and contemplation stages are similar to Lewin’s first stage of unfreeze. In both precontemplation and contemplation the leader is in an observation phase to determine if change is needed and if so, the manager makes the workers aware why a change is needed. The preparation and action stage is similar to the change stage of Lewin’s model. The preparation and action stages develop the behavior to ready the workers for the change and the action stage implement the changes by putting the committed people in place to activate the change. The last stage is called maintenance. This stage stabilize the changes and prevent relapse back to the status quo (Freeman & Dolan, 2001).
Another change theory that the natural reaction of a new leader is Rogers’ Theory of Diffusion of Innovations which is a change theory that also consist of five stages: knowledge, persuasion, decision, implementation, and confirmation (Anderson, 2009). At the knowledge stage, the leaders learn about the organizations, the other seasoned members of the organization, and the current culture. The persuasion stage, the new leader develops the workers attitude by explaining to them the need for a change. The next stage of Roger’s theory is call the decision stage. This stage encourage employees to accept the needed changes. These three stages are similar to Lewin’s unfreezing stage. The fourth stage is called implementation stage. This stage is like Lewin’s
Step 2 is forming a powerful guiding coalition. Leadership will have to be on board and on the same page in regards to the change. Kotter and Cohen reveal the core problems people face when leading change. Their main findings are that the central issue concerns not structure or systems but behavior and how to alter it (Farris, 2008). The success of the changes will depend on the ability of the managers to show their commitment to change and motivate the employees to do the same. Without any process to track the implementation, the change can also fail.
No matter how easy is may seem on the surface, the unfreezing, moving and refreezing stages of Lewin’s 3-Step model must be taken (Lewin, 1946). These stages are difficult and persistence by the organization in sticking to its objectives for growth and improvement must remain a top priority. In reality no matter how many positives a new idea is there will always be resistance when it is introduced. Change management is therefore central to the process of making the transition from the old system to the new and change management practices should be employed throughout the transition (ITIL,
In the 3-step model for successful organizational change, Kurt Lewin argues that successful change in organizations follows 3 steps:
The theory has 5 stages of behavior change: pre-contemplations, contemplation, preparation, action, and maintenance. The stages of change explain when and why people change.
As Niccolo Machiavelli once stated "There is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct, or more uncertain in its success, than to take the lead in the introduction of a new order of things" (Burtonshaw-Gunn 2008 p 21). Change is as influential as it is necessary. Adopting effective change can also be a difficult endeavor. That is why this research is examining particular change models as a way to better understand methods which can be transposed into real practice. Here, the work of Palmer & Dunford (2009) is examined, in particular the concepts of change images found in chapter two of the work Managing Organizational Change: A Multiple Perspectives Approach. Change model images essentially prepare a foundation of structure and leadership for managers, which can be decided upon based on the specific environmental factors involved in the change itself. Managers can choose particular management styles based on the specificities of the situation and the desired results.
Organizations must respond to their internal and external environment. Therefore, organizational success heavily relies on leaderships ability to manage change. Unfortunately, many leaders struggle to effectively lead change initiatives. In fact, Ashkenas (2013, para. 1) reported 60 – 70% of organizational change initiatives fail to meet their objectives.
The model represents a very simple and practical model for understanding the change process. For Lewin, the process of change entails creating the perception that a change is needed, then moving toward the new, desired level of behavior and finally, solidifying that new behavior as the norm. The model is still widely used and serves as the basis for many modern change models.
Change is a double-edged sword (Fullan, 2001). Change is a word that might inspire or put fear into people. Leadership is challenging when it comes to dealing with change and how individuals react within the organization to the change. Marzano, McNulty, and Waters (2005) discuss two orders of change in their book School Leadership that Works; first and second. Fullan (2001) also adds to the discussion in his book Leading in a Culture of Change, with regard to understanding change. In Change Leadership, Keagan and Wagner (2006) discuss many factors of change and the systematic approach to change. Change affects people in different ways. Leaders need to be able to respond to the individuals throughout the change process.
Competitive imperatives of market forces and customer demands in today’s environment have led to the emergence of less hierarchical and more flexible organisations (Doyle, 2001). In working towards this paradigm shift, a distinction and clarification of the relationship between leadership and management in the change process needs to be addressed. According to Caldwell (2003), change leaders are executives or senior managers at the very top of the organisation who envision, initiate or sponsor strategic change of far-reaching or transformational nature by challenging the status quo, communicating a vision that employees believe in, and empowering them to act. In contrast, change managers are usually middle level managers and functional
The book The Heart of Change shows the practical side of the theories that are taught in the course textbook. It presents stories of successes and failures based in the application of concepts discussed in Organizational Behavior and Management and in class. Although we talked about several different concepts the ones that are evident in the examples in The Heart Of Change are the more progressive and individual centered approaches. The leadership characteristics that are important to successful change in an organization are those that are espoused in the transformational theory of management. It makes sense that ideals in line with the transformational management theory
Change happens in all aspects of life. Leaders view change as being good most of the time. An organization can’t move forward without change. This paper will discuss how leaders can use levels of change and the steps of Kotter’s change model to implement change. It will also give a Christian worldview as it pertains to the topics. Leader must learn the language to effectively communicate change. This will give managers an advantage and help demonstrate the vision for the future.
The aim of this report is to provide a critical analysis of the concept of change in the business industry. The concept of change can be tracked back to Lewin’s Model of Change therefore the intitial introduction of this report focuses on the relevance of the Model of Change and its importance to giving precedence to other relevant change management theories and how Kurt Lewin’s work on heavioral science and planned change during World War II gave rrise to prominence of experimental leadership and planned change processes which also in turn launched a new generation of research that lead to group dynamics and how change programs are implemented into an organisation (Burnes, 2004). This is important because today’s basic elements or factors
The purpose of this paper is to use the course concepts to expand upon the topic of leadership styles. I will define leadership and management; explain how the two play a role during organizational change management and how this information can be used by practicing managers. Lewin’s change model combined with Kotter’s eight step change model will be used to present an understanding of and emphasize the importance of leadership through the stages of change.
The purpose of this paper is to discuss organizational change and the management of that change. I will talk about the different drivers of change, the factors a leader needs to weigh to implement change effectively, the various resistances a leader may encounter while trying to implement change, and how various leadership styles will effect the realization of change. I will also discuss the knowledge I have gained through the completion of this assignment and how I think it might affect the way I manage change in my workplace.
When changes are inevitable, the leaders usually design some adequate steps to make the change go smooth, effective and permanently. Kurt Lewin argued that successful change in organizations should follow three steps: