Module Assignemnt: Organizational Resistance to Change (and Why Good Companies Fail)
Modular Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this module, the student will be able to satisfy the following outcomes:
• Case
o Analyze why good companies may fail because they have neglected to adapt to changes within the internal organization and/or to changes in the external environment.
• SLP
o Assess the negative consequences of organizational apathy, and identify barriers that cause organizational resistance to change.
• Discussion
o Evaluate the reason for an organization's failure due to resistance to change.
Module Overview
In this Module, we will explore the reasons that even healthy organizations require change, and the negative consequences that may arise because they have disregarded or otherwise ignored their need to adapt to internal needs or to changes in the external environment. We will explore the nature of organizational "inertia," and the consequences of an organization's failure to respond. In this module, we will be focused on factors that create organization-wide resistance to change (in Module, we will review resistance to change on the part of individual employees).
Organizations require change to remain viable. And successful change requires leadership. The following (excellent) article demonstrates how organizational change and transformation processes relate to leadership; to this extent, it is also a particularly good introduction to this course. While there is no need to read the full article, be sure to read the section entitled "The Role of Organisational Leaders in Transformations."
Wan, K. E. (2013, May). The role of leadership in organizational transformation. Civil Service College-Singapore.
Module- Case: Organizational Resistance to Change (and Why Good Companies Fail)
Assignment Overview
In the Module 1 Case Assignment, you will write a 5- to 6-page paper in which you analyze in-depth the reasons that good companies fail due to their reluctance to respond to changes in the internal company and the external environment.
Case Assignment
To begin the Module 1 Case assignment, read the following article:
Butt, J., & Ivanov, S. (2017). Study of a large office supply retail organization: How good companies slowly go out of business. International Journal of Organizational Innovation, 9(4), 100-116. Retrieved from EBSCO - Business Source Complete.
After you read the foregoing article, visit the library, and consult IBISWorld (download the IBISWorld Academic Overview). Search for "Office Supply Stores in the U.S." Scan through the various pages associated with the large office supply retail industry, noting key areas of opportunity, key areas required for success, and key threats. Then, in a well-written 5- to 6-page paper (not including Cover and References pages), respond to the following:
1. Based on your research, what are the key drivers for success in the large office supply store industry? This section should be at least 2 pages in length.
2. What were the reasons for the failure of the Fortune 500 office supply company as discussed in the Butt and Ivanov (2017) journal article? Are these reasons consistent with the reasons for organizational failure as identified by Sheth& Sisodia (2005)? What other reasons, if any, have you identified? Are there any practical difficulties that served as barriers to needed organizational change? (This section should be at least 2 pages in length).
3. What recommendations would you have given the leadership of the foregoing Fortune 500 company relative to how the company may have avoided organizational failure? (This section should also be at least 2 pages in length).
Module- SLP: Organizational Resistance to Change (and Why Good Companies Fail)
For the Module 1 SLP, we will continue our research into why good organizations resist change. To this extent, please visit the library, and find the following text:
Managing Change by Brown
Brown, B. B. (2002). Easy step by step guide to managing change. Havant: Crimson eBooks. Retrieved from EBSCO eBook Collection.
Read the chapter entitled "Organization barriers to change." In this chapter, you will note several key barriers that cause organizations to resist needed change. Namely, these are:
a. Unclear objectives;
b. Inappropriate structures; and
c. Poor communications.
It is important to note the author's emphasis that any one of these factors create organization-wide resistance to change because they have become part of the organization's status quo.
After reading the chapter "Organization barriers to change," respond to the following in a well-written, 3-4-page paper:
Part One: Description
Think of an experience you have had with an organization that failed to change when change was needed. Describe the change and explain why the organizational change you identify was needed. Describe what negative consequences (or outcomes) resulted from the organization's failure to enact the needed change. What were the costs to the organization (e.g., poor employee morale, loss of customers, poor company image, financial losses, etc.)?
Part Two: Application and Analysis
Apply Brown's (2002) perspective to demonstrate how unclear objectives, inappropriate structures, or poor communications contributed to the resistance to change in this organization. In other words, explain how Brown helps us understand why the barrier you have selected caused organization-wide resistance to needed change (keep in mind that we are focused on organization-wide - and not on individual - resistance to change).
Part Three: Solution and Recommendations
Finally, as a leader, what could you have done to avoid or minimize this resistance to change? Be specific, and be sure that your recommended actions target the barrier you identified in Part Two (e.g. unclear objectives, inappropriate structures, or poor communications). Be sure that you "connect the dots" by making a clear argument regarding how these specific recommendations would have helped the organization implement the needed change without resistance. If the resistance to change is ongoing, what suggestions do you have for resolving this problem going forward?
Format your assignment according to the following formatting requirements:
1. The answer should be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides.
2. The response also includes a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student's name, the course title, and the date. The cover page is not included in the required page length.
3. Also include a reference page. The Citations and references should follow APA format. The reference page is not included in the required page length.
Attachment:- Module-Background.rar