Lewin's Force Field Analysis

Providing clarity about the change can improve the transition process. According to Mclean (2011), leaders

Force field analysis is a very useful decision making technique. It helps individuals to make decisions by analysing the forces for and against a change and it helps them to communicate with the reasoning behind the decision. It can be used for two purposes: to decide whether to go ahead with a change and to increase your chances of success by strengthening the forces supporting the change

As said above good communication can really help people accept a change more quickly. Working as a team can really help to adapt to change

When employees are unwilling to accept change there is a strong possibility that they don’t understand the change or do not understand why it is being suggested or implemented. At this time is when communication is essential in letting the employees know what the changes are trying to accomplish and what their roles are during the change. As a manager it is crucial to have an understanding of the employees you oversee and to know what to expect when they are confused and concerned about procedural changes. The overall morale of the organization will be good if the employees are kept involved in both the planning and the implementation of any changes.

In conclusion, the statement at the start of the chapter that “if we only draw upon one particular frame, then this will take us away from thinking about what is going on from an alternative perspective” reminds us as manager leading change in an organization to not just jump to the first idea on how to make change. We need to be able to think outside the box and make a change in how we react to change and what are first instincts of action would be. Having different perspectives in how to go about change will allow managers to really engage and figure out what the best plan of

As managers they need to involved every one with the change and not force the change upon them.

Unfreezing:-  This stage is about getting ready to change. It involves getting to a point of understanding that change is necessary, and getting ready to move away from our current comfort zone. It ideally implies creating a situation in which we want the change.

It was once said that the only constant is change which is true. This change can be a major change or a subtle one, either way change is still constant.

Lippitt’s Phases of Change Theory Lippitt, Watson, and Westley (1958) extend Lewin’s Three-Step Change Theory. Lippitt, Watson, and Westley created a seven-step theory that focuses more on the role and responsibility of the change agent than on the evolution of the change itself. Information is continuously exchanged throughout the process. The seven steps are:

Week 3, the lecture on Managing Change describes organizational changes that occur when a company makes a shift from its current state to some preferred future state. Managing organizational change is the process of planning and implementing change in organizations in such a way as to decrease employee resistance and cost to the organization while concurrently expanding the effectiveness of the change effort. Today's business environment requires companies to undergo changes almost constantly if they are to remain competitive. Students of organizational change identify areas of change in order to analyze them. A manager trying to implement a change, no matter how small, should expect to encounter some resistance from within the organization.

A new kind of challenge sets peoples’ mind thinking trying to come up with appropriate solutions and in the process, change is created. Among these challenges is disconfirmation which causes dissatisfaction in the present conditions coupled with learning anxiety which triggers a state of resistance and defensiveness because of having to discard what had been formerly accepted. This now becomes the driving force for unfreezing which is the first stage towards change and is in itself a very fundamental step.

Personal impact and fear of change are not the only causes of resistance by individuals during a change to business practices. The lack of respect and negative attitudes can also lead to employees resisting business change. If an employee lacks respect or has a negative attitude towards a person or department leading the change, then there are more likely to oppose the new ideas being implemented. Poor communication greatly impacts individuals’ accepted to new practices in a company. Typically if an employee is given new behaviors to adopt, but is given no reason, then that employee may reject the change. Upper management must effectively relate the value, need and benefit of the change to help get employees on board with new changes. The lack of individual input can also lead to resistance. Some individuals feel the need to be included in new ideas. When employees are not asked to be involved in changes, they may lack the vision of importance or will to change. A heavier workload can also cause opposition among employees. Employees may not embrace more systems and requirements needed

Unfreezing stage clear communication must be provided which is still valid today. The communication must include a sense of urgency and help employees understand why the change is needed. In order for change to occur, employees must be prepared for the change. They must also feel that their position is secure and that they will receive support from all levels through the implementation of the change. Additionally, employees should be a part of the change process to ensure they still feel empowered within the organization.

The goal during the unfreezing stage is to create an awareness of how the status quo, or current level of acceptability, is hindering the organization in some way. The idea is that the more we know about a change and the more we feel that it is necessary and urgent, the more motivated we are to accept the change.

According to Kurt Lewin’s change model (1947), there are three aspects of managing organizational change: unfreezing, change intervention and refreezing. By observing the change model, all four characters are seen to go through the freezing stage when they found the first cheese station.