The Core Challenges of Managing Change in the Workplace Today
I am writing this article in order to identify how change is managed in business, given today’s economic downturn. In order to do this I am going to compare the experiences of a manager in a large business, which is faced with challenges and change nearly everyday. This will give me an insight into the real challenges of a manager and how these compare to the examples given in the literature that is written around this topic. I have also chosen this topic, as it is appropriate for the module I study and I have to complete such research in order to further me in this module.
Change is ‘an event that occurs when something passes from one state or phase to another.’ (Worldnetweb – change definition) Although change does cause challenges which are difficult to overcome and can have negative outcomes as well as positive ones, ‘organizational success requires integrating both change and stability’ and ‘some cultures warn that organizations must change or dies’ therefore suggesting that ‘stability breeds complacency.’ (Paula J. Caproni – Page 284)
An expansion on change is change management, which is the part that the managers of companies are in control of. This management of the change is the process that prevents problems and deals with the challenges faced. Change management is ‘an integral part of all managerial work that copes with the changing patterns of resource input and knowledge available to work organizations and the shifting demands made upon them by the parties with which they deal, and initiates changes that manager perceive to be in their interests or the interests of those who employ them.’ (Tony Watson – Page 448)
A challenge is ‘a demanding or simulating situation.’ (Worldnetweb – challenge definition) Challenges are a struggle for someone like a manager to deal with but are something that someone in such power becomes used to as they occur so often in a working environment. Sometimes challenges can be seen as beneficial as managers thrive on the
Change is ‘an event that occurs when something passes from one state or phase to another.’ (Worldnetweb – change definition) Although change does cause challenges which are difficult to overcome and can have negative outcomes as well as positive ones, ‘organizational success requires integrating both change and stability’ and ‘some cultures warn that organizations must change or dies’ therefore suggesting that ‘stability breeds complacency.’ (Paula J. Caproni – Page 284)
An expansion on change is change management, which is the part that the managers of companies are in control of. This management of the change is the process that prevents problems and deals with the challenges faced. Change management is ‘an integral part of all managerial work that copes with the changing patterns of resource input and knowledge available to work organizations and the shifting demands made upon them by the parties with which they deal, and initiates changes that manager perceive to be in their interests or the interests of those who employ them.’ (Tony Watson – Page 448)
A challenge is ‘a demanding or simulating situation.’ (Worldnetweb – challenge definition) Challenges are a struggle for someone like a manager to deal with but are something that someone in such power becomes used to as they occur so often in a working environment. Sometimes challenges can be seen as beneficial as managers thrive on the
References: Change definition - http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=change Caproni, Paula J (2005) – Management skills for everyday life 2nd edition: Why change is important (Page 284) Challenge definition - http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=challenge Caproni, Paula J (2005) – Management skills for everyday life 2nd edition: Support for challenges (Page 395) Watson, Tony (2006) – Organizing and managing work 2nd edition: Change management definition (Page 448) Bass, B.M