Assignment: Lead and Manage Organisational Change

Part 1. Identify change requirements and opportunities

Task Description

In this task you will be required to identify the need for strategic and operational change.

• You will need to access information about your organisation's current strategic directions.
• If working in a simulated situation you will be provided with information and a scenario.

Task 1

a) Write a list of possible needs for change. To do this you will need to do some or all of the following:

• Review organisation's strategic plans
• Review relevant policies and procedures
• Consider any environmental events or trends
• Review operational procedures
• Consult relevant stakeholders, specialists and experts

b) Consult with relevant managers to discuss and prioritise identified change requirements. Prepare a report that outlines the outcomes of this meeting. (If completing this activity in the classroom, your fellow learners and trainer can represent relevant managers)

Part 1. Checklist

Before you hand in these assessment tasks, use the checklist below to make sure you have completed all the tasks and have included all relevant information.

- Listed possible needs for change
- Consulted with managers
- Reported on management meeting outcomes

Part 2. Develop change management strategy.

Task Description

In this activity you will be required to undertake a series of analyses to develop your change management strategy.

Task 1

a) Select two high priority change requirements/ opportunities and conduct a cost benefit analysis, a risk analysis and an analysis of potential barriers for each change requirement.

Task 2

a) Develop a change management project plan for your selected change requirement. Include objectives of the change process, expected outcomes, a budget & resources required or the change program, the methodology you will use in the change program, a timetable of key activities, mitigation strategies to address identified risks.

b) Obtain approval to proceed with the change program.

c) Agree on project resources and reporting protocol. (If completing this activity in the classroom, your trainer could represent senior management)

Part 2. Checklist

Before you hand in these assessment tasks, use the checklist below to make sure you have completed all the tasks and have included all relevant information.

- Conducted a cost benefit analysis, risk analysis and analysis of potential barriers for two change requirements/ opportunities
- Selected a change requirement to work on
- Developed a change management project plan
- Obtained approval and agreement on resources and reporting protocol

Part 3. Implement change management strategy

Task Description

In this activity you will be required to develop communication and education plans to support your change management strategy. In addition, you will be required to implement at least one aspect of the change management strategy and plan the process for evaluation and review.

Task 1

a) Consult with a representative group of people who will be impacted by the change program to identify the need for communication and education. (If completing in the classroom, your fellow learners could form the representative group)

b) Produce samples of materials that will be used in the communication/ education process. (e.g. memos, staff flyers, training material, instructions, procedures etc.)

Task 2

a) Prepare a communication/ education plan that addresses the needs you identified through the consultation process above. The plan should include the needs to be addressed, strategies to be used, how you will measure the impact of the communication/ education plan, a schedule of activities that will be rolled out as part of the communication strategy.

b) Arrange one communication/ education activity as outlined in your plan from task 2a above.

For example, this may involve:

• Running a staff meeting to communicate the change
• Conducting a focus group
• Delivering a one-hour training session for a group of staff
• Conducting a mentoring or coaching discussion with a staff member

(If you are conducting this activity in the classroom, your fellow learners and trainer could represent people impacted by the change)

Task 3

a) Action at least one intervention or activity as planned in your change management project plan. (If completing this activity in the classroom, you may choose to role play this intervention. e.g. conduct a training session, run a team building activity, role play a selection interview or a new performance management process, etc.)

b) Describe the barriers you may face when implementing this intervention and the strategies you will use in response to these barriers.

c) Prepare a report on strategies needed to embed the change.

d) Describe how you will monitor, evaluate and modify the activities and interventions you have included in your change program.

Part 3. Checklist

Before you hand in these assessment tasks, use the checklist below to make sure you have completed all the tasks and have included all relevant information.

- Identified a list of communication/ education needs
- Prepared a communication/ education plan
- Produced samples of communication materials
- Implemented one communication activity
- Submitted the materials used to implement the communication activity (e.g. meeting agenda and notes)
- Actioned a change management intervention
- Described barriers and strategies to respond to barriers
- Reported on strategies to embed the change
- Described the process of monitoring, evaluating and modifying the change program.