It is important to identify the characteristics, competencies and skills of change agents (CA); in order to, enhance the potential for success in the process of change. Because change is often associated with resistance and cynicism, it is crucial not to underestimate the human factor; and therefore, determine the essential prerequisites needed to be an effective CA in an organisation with a consultative culture. This essay will identify the characteristics, competencies and skills needed to be an effective CA and discuss how these can be used to strengthen the change prospects in a relational mode of agency. Learning from Schein, a CA can be known as the one or a group, who is instrumental and active in making change occur (cited Jabri, 2017). Change in its self can be difficult as it requires learning, alteration or re-arrangement that can impact our lives both inside and out of the organisation (Lotich, 2011). Change frequently sees people respond adversely, and can create an obstacle for the CA to overcome. In addition to observation, to identify the merits that are associated with an effective CA, it would be …show more content…
The CA needs the motivation and commitment to overcome the resistance that they will encounter. Participants respond to change differently, an effective CA will have the character to endure the difficult facets; while, continuing to push forward in order to achieve the goal (Caldwell, 2003). The mode of agency within an organisation will also impact the ability of the CA to be effective. An individual mode of agency, will see the CA being the overarching determinant voice implementing predetermined strategy and process. Whereas, a relational mode of agency, requires the CA to take on a more inclusive and integrated approach (Jabri,
Internal change agents are normally used to work on long term outcome changes. They have relationships built with many people from different departments of the organization. Internal agents have the current vision and what’s expected for the future. They have knowledge of how the systems currently work and what’s expected later as technology change. They understand the direction the organization is headed in and what support is needed to get there. Internal change agents
As a result, Zwick (2002, p. 542) has noted that implementing change programmes in organisations that realise positive outcomes remain problematic for many organisations in the 21st century. Ayodeji & Oyesola (2011, p. 235) have postulated that organisational change is a dynamic process, which when taken poorly contribute to employee resistance to it, and eventually leads to failure of the whole process. 3|Page Organisation Behaviour; MGTS 1601; Individual Essay; Employee resistance to change Yuanli Zhang 43401163 Employees resist changes when they occur in the organisations for several reasons. Many organisations when they introduce changes are likely to stick to the ‘top-down organisational change’ process (Awasthy, Chandrasekaran & Gupta, 2011, pp.
The first step in driving the necessary change within the organization is to secure an outside consultant to serve as a change agent. The change agent will facilitate and guide the organizational development (OD) through process consultation intervention. In this process, it will be necessary to identify sources of resistance through Force field analysis. Once the sources are identified, one-on-one meetings and group meetings will be conducted to educate the employees on the changes and the reasons why change is necessary. This step will find the management team working to re-define the vision of the organization. As part of
The skills needed for a change agent are experience, success, respect, and leadership skills, and management competencies (Grohar-Murray & Langan, 2011). A change agent is anyone who has a positive attitude, communicates the goals of the organization and is willing to get involved to help facilitate these goals.
Structure and agency are two theoretical terms used to explain the capacity at which we as people are able to be individuals, and to what extent those influences limit our individuality. Structure refers to the ways in which a society is organized. Agency refers to the behaviors and actions of the individuals within the social structure. Agency is limited by the structure due to cultural barriers and inequalities within the structure. In this essay, I will present an overview of why critical theorists are concerned with those inequalities, and I will further identify the problems within the system contributing to the unequal access to the public sphere, relating specifically to class and gender inequalities.
1. Diagnose the problem. 2. Assess the motivation and capacity for change. 3. Assess the resources and motivation of the change agent. This includes the change agent’s commitment to change, power, and stamina. 4. Choose progressive change objects. In this step, action plans are developed and strategies are established. 5. The role of the change agents should be selected and clearly understood by all parties so that expectations are clear. Examples of roles are: cheerleader, facilitator, and expert. 6. Maintain the change. Communication, feedback, and group coordination are essential elements in this step
In order to examine this issue further, this research will look at a number of different sources. Contemporary managerial sources are explored in order to understand how other voices in the field are describing similar methods for change. First, popular structures for change management are examined, especially within their correlation to Palmer & Dunford (2009). This is followed with an extensive
The Predictability Of A Partner’s Actions Modulates The Sense Of Joint Agency Research already shows that when people perform tasks alone they felt like they have control over their actions. When people can predict their tasks, the sense of agency increases. This research focuses on sense of joint agency, predicted by many thinkers, when people are required to perform tasks with coordination and cooperation of another person. The joint agency suggests that people guess not only their own actions, but also their partners' actions when performing a task together.
Change is difficult because all organizations cultures, structures, mission, and values are unique. As a result, there is not a “blueprint” that leaders can follow to ensure change initiative success. However, understanding the conditions that promote successful change processes is critically important for leaders. If employees do not support
The dichotomy between structure and agency and how to resolve this dichotomy has been at the centre of classical and contemporary sociological theorizing. In this write-up, I examine the works of Giddens and Habermas in their prescription for agency and structure dichotomy. I also attempt a brief explanation of what structure and agency connote and examine the relevance of structure and agency for the analysis trade unions.
Because, the change process needs to be a collaborative effort in order to be successful, there are multiple change agents involved in this processes. However, the leader of the change process is the primary change agent. The change agent acts as a catalyst for change. The leader is the person that recognizes that a change is necessary and initiates the process to implement the change. In order to be successful, the change agent needs to have a clear vision of
Agency costs are inevitable within an organization whenever shareholders are not completely in charge; the cost can usually be best spent on providing proper material incentives and moral incentives for agents to properly execute their duties, thereby aligning the interests of shareholders (owners) and agents.
In the review of the book, “Making Change Work: Practical Tools for Overcoming Human Resistance to Change,” I decided to summarize the major steps the book establishes. It discusses how to begin the change process by understanding your need for change, to the final step of the change process where an organization needs to implement changes. After summarizing the steps, I am going to show how the book relates to the textbook, Organizational Change: An Action-Oriented Toolkit, as well as giving a managerial implication.
Employees have a chance to practice and fail in a non-threatening environment. They have been given the appropriate coaching and know where to go for help and the values of a change-competent organization are factored into the job descriptions, compensation and reward schemes for employees. Their direct supervisors provide guidance and opportunities to practice the skills needed to support constant
In contrast, if the transformational initiative is carried out by change agents with whom employees are used to relate and with whom employees have developed certain customary work relationships, then the workers will be willing to help with implementing the change, will not display resistance, and will be open to more change. The fact that people tend to resist the change in human relationships and not the technical change was observed and confirmed by the above mentioned study as well as numerous others. If participation in change will be perceived by employees as a continuation or part of a normal, day-to-day behavior, then there will be no resistance.