Change in an Organization
This chapter involves change and the response to change in an organization. If you feel uncomfortable already you probably are in the majority. Let's read the scenario below and try to understand why change is so difficult.
Scenario: Imagine the days before COVID when we were all in a classroom. Do you remember back then? Well, think about where you decided to sit in a classroom. Did you find that you usually chose the same seat in most of the classrooms that you were in? If not, then what usually made you choose the seat that you decided to sit in? Now if you were to sit in a seat in the first class, how likely were you to sit in the same seat after that? Have I made a point? So change is hard, and we all have gone through some kind of change, small or large, in our lives at school, at our workplace, and at home.
Read the information above and then answer the following questions:
Describe what the circumstances were at your workplace when you had to change something
How did you adjust to the change?
Were there colleagues that could not adjust to the change?
Why do you think, in terms of change theory, that there were colleagues that could not adjust?
Sample Solution
I was working as a software engineer at a large tech company. We were working on a new product, and we had to make a significant change to the architecture of the product. This change was necessary to improve the performance and scalability of the product, but it was also going to be a lot of work.
How did you adjust to the change?
I adjusted to the change by being open-minded and willing to learn new things. I also made an effort to communicate with my colleagues about the change and to answer their questions. I found that it was helpful to think about the positive aspects of the change, such as how it would improve the product for our users.
Full Answer Section
Were there colleagues that could not adjust to the change? Yes, there were some colleagues who could not adjust to the change. Some of them were resistant to change in general, while others were concerned about the impact that the change would have on their workload. Why do you think, in terms of change theory, that there were colleagues that could not adjust? There are a number of reasons why some people may have difficulty adjusting to change. Some of these reasons include:- Resistance to change: Some people are naturally resistant to change. They may be comfortable with the way things are and may not see the need for change.
- Fear of the unknown: Some people may be afraid of the unknown consequences of change. They may be worried about how the change will affect their job, their relationships, or their way of life.
- Lack of trust: If people do not trust the people who are initiating the change, they may be less likely to support the change.
- Lack of communication: If people do not understand the change or why it is happening, they may be more likely to resist it.
- Communicate effectively: It is important to communicate effectively with employees about the change. This includes explaining the reason for the change, the benefits of the change, and how the change will be implemented.
- Provide training and support: It is important to provide training and support to employees so that they can successfully transition to the new way of doing things.
- Be open to feedback: It is important to be open to feedback from employees about the change. This feedback can help to identify any problems with the change and to make necessary adjustments.
- Celebrate successes: It is important to celebrate successes with employees as they adjust to the change. This will help to boost morale and motivation.