Some people enjoy the challenges and creativity provided by constantly changing circumstances. However, for many individuals, change has a negative connotation and is laden with risk and uncertainty. Yet in today's workplace, change has become a standard component. As discussed in this week's resources, having a process in place to address change, whether it is anticipated or unplanned, helps to ensure its success.
Take a moment to reflect on your own workplace experiences and think about the changes that you have witnessed. Then, review Kotter's eight-stage approach to leading change. To prepare conduct additional research on the change process. As you do so, contemplate the following:
- Consider the concept of change and think about what it means to you.
- Think about the change process and the pitfalls that can occur. Reflect on a change experience that did not go well. At what stage in Kotter's process did it fail?
- When have you faced unexpected change in your career or personal life?
You must explain your reasoning as you formulate your formal response.
Now do a cohesive and scholarly response based on your readings and research this week that addresses the following:
- As a manager, how will you both manage and lead change? What is the difference between managing and leading change? What do you conclude is the biggest challenge for an organization, a department, or a manager in keeping up with change?
- Consider the possible kinds of change-for example, transformational, planned, unwelcome, or unexpected. How does the kind of change impact the change process? Which of Kotter's eight stages would you need to approach differently depending on the type of change, and why?
Be sure to support your work with specific citations from this week's resources and any additional sources.