Assignment - Critical Essay
2000 words
Session four of this course discusses nine different change tools. Your task is to choose two, and critically evaluate their usefulness to effect change for BOTH a manufacturing company and a service company.
The available change tools to evaluate are:
Socio-technical system approach
The organisation development school
The learning organisation
Lean production
TQM
Business process re-engineering
Best practice
The high-performance work organisation.
Your evaluation should resolve the question "Are these change tools appropriate, not appropriate, or partially appropriate to change both a manufacturing company, and a service company?" along with an explanation of how you reached that conclusion.
Notes:
For a 2000 word essay such as this, we expect at least 10 peer-reviewed academic journal article references.
You are to use Chicago 16 referencing, following the requirements described at the official Murdoch Library page.
A marking rubric for this assignment is in the "Assessments" section of Moodle.
All other information regarding assessments, including this one, can be found in the Unit Guide.
Suggested Essay Plan
2000 words
Introduction (Approx. 200 words)
Sentence 1 - introduce the general subject; (organisational change)
Sentence 2 -introduce the topic; (critically evaluating two different change tools for their effectiveness in two different industries)
Sentence 3 - introduce your position (thesis statement); example "This essay explores the contention that ‘x' and ‘y' change tools are both useful for service industries, but only ‘y' is a useful change tool for manufacturing.''
Sentence 4 - introduce the essay as a document (first, second, third, finally);
Sentence 5 - state the scope of the essay and say what you will not cover.
Body Paragraphs (between 200-400 words each).
• Introduce and define change tool ‘x' & outline how change tool ‘x' works.
• Introduce and define change tool ‘y' & outline how change tool ‘y' works.
• Introduce and define the characteristics of companies who manufacture goods, and companies who provide services. Identify key areas of similarity and difference between the two.
• Discuss the peer-reviewed academic literature as it pertains to the application of change tool ‘x' to manufacturing. Point out the shortcomings and advantages of change tool ‘x' in manufacturing.
• Discuss the peer-reviewed academic literature as it pertains to the application of change tool ‘x' to service delivery. Point out the shortcomings and advantages of change tool ‘x' in service delivery.
• Discuss the peer-reviewed academic literature as it pertains to the application of change tool ‘y' to manufacturing. Point out the shortcomings and advantages of change tool ‘y' in manufacturing.
• Discuss the peer-reviewed academic literature as it pertains to the application of change tool ‘y' to service delivery. Point out the shortcomings and advantages of change tool ‘y' in service delivery.
Conclusion (Approx. 200 words)
• Summarise arguments from the body paragraphs.
• Remind the reader of the main argument (your thesis) and the reasoning behind it (your supporting points).
• Add any other remarks that emphasise the significance of the thesis.