Organization Change

Change is one of those aspects of business functions to which authorities have to pay a lot of attention tofor not only managing but also implementing it at the workplace (Milgrom and Roberts, 2005). The present report discusses about usefulness of different strategies that can be used by an organization so as to manage a change at the workplace and also stay competitive. For conducting this research paper, various past published articles, etc. would be reviewed and assessed from a view point of evaluating them and drawing relevant conclusions from them. This way the research would be conducted in an efficient and effective fashion. Secondary research will help scholar in understanding and interpreting findings of different past studies on the same topic. It is important for companies in the modern day environment which is changing and evaluating at a very fast pace and has become highly unpredictable. Because of this reason, it has become imperative for companies to ensure that company is able to operate effectively and meet its goals and objectives with great ease and comfort. The present report also discusses about proactive change which in most cases leads to changes and modifications in project being carried out by an organization. Further it also consists of extrinsic approaches that help in improvement in the firm in terms of training and development and also the skills which an individual possesses. Another section of this research paper discusses about structure systems that in most cases lead to planned or emergent change in an organization. Technical changes also result in emergent change. This report also discusses about transformational change.

Literature review

Modern environment that different business organizations work in the modern age has become extremely competitive, volatile, which has rendered it to become a very dangerous aspects of operating in different markets. Studies have shown that change and development in organizational practices has become a very common phenomenon, making it very hard for companies to function effectively and also be able to attain their aims and objectives. In this sense, it may not be wrong to say that companies which do not adapt to change have very less chance for surviving in the market. In different industries and sectors, there have been such developments and trends which effectively have changed face of the industry and also the way its market players operate and achieve their aim and objectives. According to, a Lindgren (2006) major development that has happened across sectors is constant changes in customer needs and demands. Today, expectations of customers from companies has changed by a great margin as they now demand for such products and/or services which not only meet their demands and satisfy them but also that they are cheap, technologically advanced and environment friendly as well. Because of this reason, it has become imperative for business organizations that they identify such demands and also try to meet them with great ease and comfort, as opined by Tsoukas (2012). On many occasions, it has been observed that needs and demands of customers have changed by significant margins in aviation industry during last some years (Greenwood and Hinings, 2006). In this sense, Nadler (2007) stated that the pace at which demands and expectations of clients changes in aviation and travel and tourism industry, it is imperative for market players that they adjust to such changes in the environment and alter according to them (Kandt, 2002). This way firms will get much better opportunities to interact with customers and also to satisfy them to such an extent which would make them loyal towards the organization.

Main reason behind it being that it leads to expending a lot many resources such as time, money, energy, etc. on identifying as well as implementing the change. In view of Keen, (2006) to apply a change at a workplace, authorities have to work extra hard to first of all identify the change that must be brought about in the firm and then convince employees and other internal decision makers to implement the change and make necessary modifications according to it (Parker and et.al, 2013). Blake (2011) in this context, opines that management at an organization first have to identify and then understand the change, where in they would have to expend a major sum of their money and other resources (Hiatt and Creasey, 2003). This is mainly because of reason that it would lead management to expend a lot of their valuable resources and the chances of change being accepted as well as implemented might be very less. According to authors such as Woodman, (2013) using emergent approaches to change can be a very risky option to an organization, largely because it may derail the firm off its track to growth and prosperity because of which company might not be able to effectively survive in the market, thus resulting in non-attainment of corporate goals (Weick and Quinn, 2009). Furthermore, it is not easy for management of different firms and enterprises to bring about and implement a change because of reason that they have to convince the employees by making them understand need and importance of the change (Reid and Todffel, 2009). As per the view of Bedeian, (2007) change although is very important but implementing it at workplace is very difficult (Giraud and Autissier, 2008). There are a lot many approaches and methods or tools that can help companies to accept and adapt to changes and implement them at the workplace. Emergent, Planned and Proactive are the most common ones.

Emergent approaches to change

Emergent change is that type of change which is nether planned or unplanned in nature. For the modern day companies, it is crucial that they remain attentive and receptive to different kinds of market forces, as the unexpected or emergent changes have significant impact over working of companies regardless of the market they may be operating in (Claire, 2012). Many researchers and scholars have opined that emergent change is such a kind of change to implement which there are no particular approaches or techniques. As per the view of Bybee (2007), it may not be wrong to say that it can be a very tough task for management of an organization to implement an emergent change at the workplace, largely because of reason that there are no particular approaches or methods through which the same can be implemented (Todnem and Macleod, 2012). Emergent change is another type that companies must be ready to identify, accept and embrace to, as found in the study by Becker (2009). This is mainly because of reason that environment that organizations, regardless of their sectors or industries, operate in have become highly competitive (Appelbaum and et.al, 2012). Due to this fact, changes might happen for which management at such enterprises may not have planned for. Changes or developments that happen suddenly; the ones which management of an organization is not able to anticipate is known as emergent change. Past researchers believed that “big bang approach” must be used to implement a change at workplace; but modern scholars and researchers opine that emergent approach must be used (Argyris, 2003). They follow the age old adage of “expect the unexpected”, according to Whisler (2009).

According to Burns (2001), this is quiet a true aspect in the modern day environment, as activities keep on happening in industries at a rapid and continuous pace. This means that if companies do not prepare themselves to face unexpected changes and situations, then there are substantial chances that they may perish (Leban and Stone, 2007). On the contrary to it Jones (2010), believes that emergent change can be described as an ongoing learning process which lays emphasis on analytical, evolutionary nature of change instead of accepting to and following pre-determined steps and procedures to cope or accept and implement the same (Claire, 2012). According to, Faniran (2011) to bring about such kinds of changes at workplace, management must be aware of market situations and also should conduct thorough analysis of market(s) they operate in, so as to gain information regarding developments that may lead to changes in the company (Weick and Quinn, 2009). According to Dunphy (2008), it is a very good option for business firms to implement a change in the company through emergent approaches of change management, as they would aid them to implement any kind of development at the workplace with great ease and comfort and also ensure that organizational goals and objectives are attained easily (Todnem and Macleod, 2012).

Therefore, it may not be wrong to say that emergent change approaches are the best options that companies, regardless of market they operate in, can use to bring about a change in organizational working. But in contrast to it Lorenzo (2014), believes that using emergent approach to change is not an effective or useful one, largely because of reason to use and implement it, authorities have to expend a lot of organizational resources and assets like finance, manpower and the likes on conducting extensive and thorough market surveys to identify such kinds of changes (Argyris, 2003). Thus it may not be wrong to opine that it is not a very successful option for companies, irrespective of the market they may be operating in.

Planned Approaches to change

Planned change, as opined by Stace (2010) is that type of change that everyone related to it can see and observe. Research studies and investigations have described planned change as the best approach to developing and implementing any change at workplace. In this sense, it may not be wrong to say that it is the most vital and crucial form of a change which an organization can use to its benefit (Rouse, 2011). Planned change is important mainly because of reason that through it, companies, irrespective of market they may be operating in, can make attempts to improve their performance and also try to prolong existence in the market. In this regard Weick (2000), opines that there are many ways through which a change can be implemented at the workplace (Carr and Hancock, 2008). In such contexts, planned changes can prove to be of great use to business organisations, as argued by Hwang (2010). In these kinds of cases, Lewin's change management model can be very effective and useful. In addition to it, democratic leadership styles can be very conducive to organizational mission and vision, thus helping in process to help company to remain competitive in the market (Giraud and Autissier, 2008). There are three steps that would have to be carried out by management of an organization in this regard. First stage in this context is to unfreeze. Herein, authorities would have to interact and convince all those directly associated with the firm's working, as argued by Wilkins (2009). This way the firm can be prepared for the change which is to be implemented at workplace. Although it is a very difficult stage to be carried out, but is very important largely because of reason that if it is not successfully performed, then the planned change cannot be effectively implemented in the organization (Argyris, 2003). Next stage in this regard is to implement the change or development at the workplace. Once an uncertainty is created in company through this stage, it would become a lot more easier for management to implement given change in the organization (Markus and Robey, 2008). The next stage herein is to refreeze. This essentially means that the development is made a permanent part of organizational workings, as said by Nadler (2007).

Statement in support of emergent approach to change

Through the above discussion it can be said that using approach of emergent change can be of great use to business firms, largely because of reason that it would enable authorities to remain attentive and receptive to different market forces. This would help them in conducting thorough investigation of the market and thus be able to identify such kinds of developments and try to save the organization from any adverse effects of it (Christensen and Overdorf, 2011). Furthermore, these approaches will also help the company to face the sudden changes that may happen due to high volatility and unpredictable characteristics of market the firm may be functioning in. French (2010) believes that for modern day business organizations it is very crucial that they identify changes. But adapting to it is even more important, as it is the only way through which enterprise can operate successfully and achieve its goals and objectives.

CONCLUSION

Through the above study, it can be concluded that using emergent approaches to change management can be very useful for business organizations, regardlessheedless of the market that they may be operating, mainlylargely because it would enable companies to effectively fulfil demands of customers and also enhance the organization's standing in the market, in terms of its performance and brand image.

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REFERENCES

• Hiatt, J. and Creasey, J. T., 2003. Change Management: The People Side of Change. Prosci.
• Leban, B. and Stone, R., 2007. Managing Organizational Change. 2nd ed. John Wiley & Sons.
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• Appelbaum, H. S., and et.al., 2012. Back to the future: revisiting Kotter's 1996 change model. Journal of Management Development.
• Carr, A. and Hancock, P., 2008. Space and time in organizational change management. Journal of Organizational Change Management.
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• Giraud, L. and Autissier, D., 2008. Uncovering the intellectual development of the Journal of Organizational Change Management: A knowledge-stock and bibliometric study. Journal of Organizational Change Management.
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• Milgrom, P. and Roberts, J., 2005. Complementarities and fit strategy, structure, and organizational change in manufacturing. Journal of accounting and economics.

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