Assignment Sample on Change Management Report

Introduction

Change Management is a combination of ideas and methods through which a company would implement internal and external changes within an organisation. The main purpose of this report is to analyse the importance and significance of change management on business organisations by reflecting on my experience as a logistics executive. It is supported by relevant theories and paradigms. Upon critical analysis and evaluation, suitable recommendations are being proposed in this report.

Critical Reflection on a Change Process

Importance of Change Recognition

In a competitive global market, it is important for organisations to perform according to the changes in the industry. According to Bockenet al. (2019, p.1498), organisations would need to realize scope for growth and development, launch products and services to satisfy market demands and train employees to meet targets. Change Recognition process helps organisations to identify factors influencing changes in a market, make strategic plans by evaluating the factors and implement them effectively for achieving goals. Shroufe (2017 p. 317), further explained that change management provides businesses with new opportunities in the market. Application of this process helps to enhance innovation, growth in ideas and concepts, thereby increasing the overall productivity of a business.

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Change Background

I have worked as a Logistics Executive at an Indian based company XYZ Logistics. This company went through a significant number of changes by ensuring customer satisfaction, providing an inclusive work culture and determining cost effective prices of products. Upon analysis of the change recognition process, it was determined that over the years XYZ Logistics. It had been successful in creating a brand image in logistics. Based on this ideology the organisation adopted a Change management strategy where they had reduced prices of essential commodities and shifted them to an affordable range.

The organisation had failed to adapt to the rapid technological changes in managing customers and maintaining supply chains in the competitive market. The revenue earned in XYZ Logistics’ e-commerce sector has been significantly lower than Amazon, Costco and similar e-commerce companies. In order to address this system, XYZ Logistics had tried to reconstruct its management structure and employee workforce by setting up targets for units on the basis of regional, state and local preferences of customers.

Theories and Paradigms

Identification of change through Kotter’s 8 Step Model

  1. Establishing a sense of urgency

The first stage of Kotter’s 8 Step model helps organisations to create a sense of urgency which initiates the “need for change”. Aligning with the given case study ofXYZ Logistics, departmental leadership in the organisation had created a sense of urgency for adapting recent business tactics needed in the e-commerce retail sector.

  1. Forming a guiding coalition

The second stage of Kotter’s 8 Step model helps organisations to create a team which would understand the required needs. XYZ Logistics had formed a guiding coalition by reconstructing the management team. XYZ Logistics reduced the number of regional managers from 44 to 36 which helped it to handle only the necessary problems and derive solutions to them.

  1. Developing strategic visions and initiatives

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The third stage of Kotter’s 8 Step model helps a business to create a strategic vision and plan initiatives accordingly. In order to provide sustainability in their business, XYZ Logistics had reduced the prices of necessary commodities. This has helped consumers to buy products at affordable price rates.

  1. Convey visions for buy in

The fourth stage of Kotter’s 8 Step model helps organisations in perfect implementation of their business strategies. XYZ Logistics had reconstructed its customer service management by identifying the recent demands of buyers thereby ensuring maximum customer satisfaction at lower costs. On the other hand, XYZ Logistics had chosen new suppliers from China for procurement of raw materials at lower costs and in a sustainable manner.

  1. Empowering others to enact action

The fifth stage of Kotter’s 8 step model helps organisations to empower staff and employees for enhancing performance. XYZ Logistics had provided empowerment to its employees by appraisals and incentives on quarterly and yearly basis. The company had also provided employees with eye-safety programs by taking care of medical needs.

  1. Generating Short term wins

The sixth stage of Kotter’s 8 step model helps organisations to create momentum for quick success by targeting short term goals in the market. XYZ Logistics had introduced function-based organisations to enhance employee’s productivity. Under this method employees would target specific goals and work accordingly to attain quick success in the market.

  1. Sustaining acceleration

The seventh stage of Kotter’s 8 step model helps organisations to increase credibility and improve the structure of the organisation. XYZ Logistics had decided to study the demographic environment of the retail sector and supply goods and services according to regional demand.

  1. Incorporating changes into the culture

The eighth stage of Kotter’s 8 step model helps organisations to abide by the changes adapted for improvement. Introducing a positive work culture, developing a sustainable supply chain and marking affordable services have helped XYZ Logistics to sustain changes in the business environment.

Application of Gibbs Reflective Cycle

Description

During my time at XYZ Logistics, the supply chain department has been criticized for misalignment of work and mismanagement of supply chain strategy. The company had failed to meet required revenue. In order to address this issue, the management team chose cost effective suppliers from China which would help them to procure cheaper raw materials at a sustainable rate.

Feelings

I felt a great deal of responsibility in logistics and transportation for the company. XYZ Logistics had decided to reduce the price rates of essential commodities. In order to ensure profitability within the organisation, I was required to develop a strategic plan by which profitability can be obtained along with customer satisfaction.

Evaluation

During the change management of XYZ Logistics, I had felt that implementation of training programmes for employees have been a good objective for the company. Employees were provided with guidance and support which enhanced their productivity and gained their confidence.

Analysis

I believe that due to the overall weak development strategies adopted for the e-commerce sector of XYZ Logistics, a competitive market was not achieved by the company. In order to my targets as a logistics executive I would need to focus on developing my critical thinking and problem solving skills.

Conclusion

I had learned a great deal of experience as a Junior Finance Manager at XYZ Logistics. I would be able to apply my experience in similar retail sectors by helping them to manage a cost effective strategy in employee management, customer satisfaction and supply chain management.

Action Plan

I had realised that in order to become an effective logistics manager in the future, I would require improving my analytical skills which would help me to plan cost effective supply chain strategies. I would need to build smooth communication skills in order to connect faster with employees. I would also require to do more research on the rival and competitive markets in order to perform at a competitive rate.

Recommendations for Lessons Learned for Future Change

SMART Objectives

SMART Objective 1: To enhance my written and verbal communication skills
Specific ●  This objective is specific as I want to focus on improving my written as well as verbal communication skills particularly since I lack in the same areas.
Measurable ● I will measure my improvement by speaking effortlessly with my peers and others as well as by writing in a concise manner with recued grammatical errors.
Attainable ● This goal can be realistically attained by me by completing daily grammar exercises and writing short essays. I will also focus on improving my vocabulary by reading newspapers daily. In order to develop my verbal communication skill I will focus on thinking and developing my message before speaking. I will try to speak in English more often with my family members and interact with my peers.
Realistic ● Developing written and verbal communication skills is a realistic goal because as a manager it is crucial to be a good communicator who can speak and write concisely (Lenard and Pintarić, 2018).
Time bound ● This will take me an estimated 3-4 months to successfully gain confidence and improve my communication capability.

 

Table 1: Smart Objectives 1

(Source: Created by Author)

SMART Objective 2: To improve critical thinking and analytical capability.
Specific ● The main objective of deriving critical thinking and analytical capability will help me to stay well-informed and make proper decisions.
Measurable ● I will be able to measure my improvement in critical thinking skill by understanding complex problems and breaking the same down into smaller pieces for clearer understanding.
Attainable ● I will be able to attain this skill by becoming more self-aware and practising active listening. Apart from these, I would be required to evaluate existing information and ask more questions to those around me to gain clarity (Cargas et al. 2017).
Realistic ● This goal is realistic as I have the required time and support from my professor and peers to focus on enhancing my critical thinking ability.
Time bound ● It will take me approximately 6 months to improve my critical thinking capability.

 

Table 2: Smart Objectives 2

(Source: Created by Author)

Conclusion

It can therefore be concluded from this report that change management strategy would help organisations to adapt according to the rapid changes in the business environment. Application of relevant theories and models would help businesses to identify their prevalent policies and changes that are required to improve them. Setting up smart objectives and targets would help organisations to meet required targets and goals and attain a considerable amount of profit.

References

Bocken, N., Boons, F. and Baldassarre, B., 2019. Sustainable business model experimentation by understanding ecologies of business models. Journal of Cleaner Production, 208, pp.1498-1512.

Cargas, S., Williams, S. and Rosenberg, M., 2017. An approach to teaching critical thinking across disciplines using performance tasks with a common rubric. Thinking Skills and Creativity, 26, pp.24-37.

Galli, B.J., 2018. Change management models: A comparative analysis and concerns. IEEE Engineering Management Review, 46(3), pp.124-132.

Lenard, D.B. and Pintarić, L., 2018. Comparison of employers’and students’perceptions regarding communication skills. Journal of Teaching English for Specific and Academic Purposes, 6(1), pp.063-082.

Sroufe, R., 2017. Integration and organizational change towards sustainability. Journal of Cleaner Production, 162, pp.315-329.

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