Leading and Managing an Organizational Change

Leading and Managing an Organizational Change Order Description   “Leading and Managing an Organizational Change” TEXTBOOK: Organization Development and Change (Cummings & Worley, 2005,). Overview In your applications paper, you will apply “Activities Contributing to Effective Change Management” to a real-world situation. The activities—or steps—are summarized in textbook readings. Note on Activities/Steps The author of your textbook places activities associated with “Creating a Vision” after activities associated with “Motivating Change.” Most organizational change experts place vision first. In your paper, you may want to address “Creating a Vision” before you address “Motivating Change.” You are free to determine the order of these steps as they relate to the topic of your paper. Options for Paper Choose an option for this paper. Option Focus of Paper Assignment 1 Prior Change Evaluation - Your Organization Evaluate the way in which a prior change was handled in an organization in which you currently work/previously worked or actively participated. Write a paper in which you describe and evaluate how the activities in your textbook were handled. If you are critical of the way in which the leader(s) managed the change, offer recommendations for improvement. If you were the leader of the change, critique your own performance. 2 Prior Change Evaluation – Company for which Library Sources on a Change Process is Available Evaluate the way in which a prior change was handled in an organization such as Google, Amazon, Hewlett-Packard, or Southwest Airlines. Rely on secondary/library research and your knowledge of leadership and organizational change to write a paper in which you describe and evaluate how the activities in your textbook were handled. If you are critical of the way in which the leader(s) managed the change, offer recommendations for improvement. 3 Change Planning – Your Organization or an Organization with which you are Familiar Plan the process of leading an organizational change. If you are a leader who is going (or would like) to manage a future organizational change—or an employee who can imagine him or herself in the role of the leader— write a paper in which you plan to enact the activities indicated in your textbook. 4 Present your idea for a paper on the process of leading change If you prefer to write a research paper on an aspect of organizational change, focus on a real work project involving organizational change, or have another idea for a paper that will reinforce learning about organizational change, make a proposal to your instructor.   Library Research - Options 1 and 2: ? You are required to conduct library research on the process of leading change. ? A minimum of ten (10) sources, in addition to your textbook, is required. ? Use high-quality sources, preferably academic journal articles. Use the “Library Link” on the “Course Home” menu to access “InfoTrac” or “ProQuest.” Avoid popular websites and articles that do not have a recognized author. Cite all sources on a Reference page, per APA. - Option 3: ? You are required to conduct library research on the change process that took place at the company about which you are writing. ? A minimum of ten (10) sources, in addition to your textbook, is required. ? Use high-quality sources, as indicated above. - Option 4: ? Negotiate research requirements for this option with your professor. A minimum of ten (10) sources, in addition to your textbook, is required.   Guidelines - Title page – Follow standard format for the MBA program. - Format – per APA manual ? Double-spaced ? Font: Times New Roman, 12 point ? Margins: per APA ? Page numbers: upper right corner - Length – Your paper should be a minimum of eight (8) pages in length. - Terminology and Concepts – Note that you are expected to use and define organizational change terminology. You are also expected to make frequent references to and explain concepts from the text. - Examples – Support generalizations with specific examples of behavior. If you assert that the leader should have “communicated the vision,” give examples of what he or she should have said and done to communicate the vision. Provide a picture of what, where, when, and who. For example, if he or she should have held a series of meetings, clarify who should have been in attendance and what specific messages should have been shared. - Citation, Please cite and use references per APA 6th Edition. Use the Student Resources Link to obtain helpful materials. Use the Writing Center and GROWS. A minimum of 10 peer-reviewed references from the online library are required.   Submission of Assignment and Evaluation Please submit this paper as a Word attachment in the digital Dropbox by 11:59 on the indicated Saturday. - Go to START HERE>Course materials handouts folder. Locate “Grading Criteria – Paper” to review expectations for the paper. - Twenty percent (20%) of your grade is based on the quality of your writing and eighty percent (80%) is based on the quality of content. - You will receive a grade and feedback within 72 hours from the due date and time. See organization of the paper on the following page. Organization and Contents of the Paper (Options 1-3) Introduction (per APA, do not show heading) For all papers, begin by orienting the reader to the situation. For example: - In what type of organization is/was change occurring? - What is/were the reasons for the change? - What is/was the nature of the change? - What is the position of the person who is leading/led the change? If the change process has been completed: What were the results? Would you evaluate this as a successful or an unsuccessful change? If you are writing about your current or a prior workplace, use pseudonyms for the name of the organization and any organizational participants whose actions are being evaluated. Activities Contributing to Effective Change Management (centered heading) In the body of your paper, generally follow the steps blow: Section 1: Creating a Vision (centered, boldface, italics heading) Describing the Core Ideology (left-justified heading) Write about it. Constructing the Envisioned Future (left-justified heading) Write about it. Section 2: Motivating Change Creating Readiness for Change Write about it. Overcoming Resistance to Change Write about it. Sections 3, 4, and 5: Creating, Managing, and Evaluating Change Notes about activities/steps: - Effective change processes include all of the indicated steps. If leaders skipped a step, make recommendations for successful implementation of that step. - If you feel justified in skipping a step, please note your explanation and move to the next step.