MGT310 Lecture Two Nature of Planned Change

Summary

In this lecture on change management, Dr. Mike explores various change models, including the Three-Step Change Model, Action Research Model, Positive Model, and Continuous Change Model. He outlines the essential stages of planned change, such as entering and contracting, diagnosing organizational problems, planning and implementing interventions, and evaluating and reinforcing changes. The lecture emphasizes the importance of leadership commitment, resources, and the ongoing reinforcement of change to ensure its success within an organization. This foundational knowledge equips individuals to understand and apply effective change management strategies.

Takeaways

• 😀 Change management frameworks often involve a blend of four models: Three-Step Change, Action Research, Positive Model, and Continuous Change.
• 😀 The Three-Step Change Model emphasizes the process of unfreezing, moving, and refreezing to break free from the status quo and initiate change.
• 😀 In the Three-Step Change Model, unfreezing represents breaking the status quo, and refreezing involves establishing a new state once change is implemented.
• 😀 Lewin's concept of 'equilibrium' explains that behavior is driven by opposing forces—those maintaining the status quo and those pushing for change.
• 😀 The Action Research Model focuses on problem identification, consulting with experts, gathering data, diagnosing the issue, and taking joint action to address it.
• 😀 The Positive Model emphasizes discovering what organizations are doing well and building upon those strengths to drive change.
• 😀 The Continuous Change Model involves an ongoing cycle of discovering problems, designing solutions, tailoring those solutions, and assessing the results.
• 😀 Successful change management requires resources, including time, money, and people, with leadership commitment being crucial to initiate and sustain change.
• 😀 Diagnosing organizational problems and understanding their causes is key to planning effective change, which involves gathering data through various methods like surveys, interviews, and observations.
• 😀 Reinforcing change is essential to prevent employees from reverting to old behaviors, ensuring that the changes implemented are long-lasting and effective.

Q & A

What is the primary focus of this lecture on change management?

The lecture focuses on the nature and planning of change within an organization. It introduces several change management models and theories that help in implementing organizational change effectively.

What are the four primary frameworks for change management discussed in the lecture?

The four primary frameworks are: the three-step change model, the action research model, the positive model, and the continuous change model.

What is the three-step change model, and who introduced it?

The three-step change model, introduced by Kurt Lewin, consists of three steps: unfreezing, moving, and refreezing. It focuses on breaking the status quo, implementing change, and solidifying the new state.

What does the term 'steady state' refer to in the context of the three-step change model?

The 'steady state' refers to a point where an organization is in a stable condition with little to no change occurring, often due to opposing forces: those maintaining the status quo and those pushing for change.

How can change be implemented in the three-step change model?

Change can be implemented by either increasing the forces pushing for change or decreasing the forces maintaining the status quo. Both strategies aim to move the organization beyond equilibrium and into a state of change.

What is the action research model, and how does it operate?

The action research model begins with identifying a problem, followed by consulting experts, gathering data, diagnosing the problem, and implementing joint actions to address the issue. It is an ongoing process of feedback and adjustment.

What is the positive model of change management?

The positive model focuses on identifying and building on the strengths of an organization. It encourages initiating inquiry, discovering positive themes, and envisioning a preferred future to drive change.

How does the continuous change model differ from the other models?

The continuous change model emphasizes the ongoing cycle of discovering problems, designing solutions, tailoring those solutions to fit the organization's needs, and assessing the results, creating an iterative process of continuous improvement.

What is the importance of the 'entering and contracting' phase in the change process?

The entering and contracting phase involves deciding whether an organization is willing to commit the necessary resources—time, money, and people—to bring about change. This is crucial for initiating change and ensuring that the right commitments are in place.

Why is diagnosing the organization's problems critical in the change management process?

Diagnosing is critical because it helps identify the root causes of issues within the organization, gathers data, and provides insights into potential areas for improvement. This step is vital for planning an effective change strategy.