Module 2 Assignment: Organizational Readiness for Change

Introduction

A manager needs to prepare for change from various angles. In this assignment, you will demonstrate your understanding about change preparedness by creating a report about the role of a manager/leader within the change process and how you would determine the employees' readiness for change.

Instructions

Create a five- to six-page, double-spaced report in response to the following:

1. Discuss the importance of preparing the organization for change. Use references and actual anecdotes where possible. 

2. Describe managerial/leadership roles, skills, and strategies facilitating positive change outcomes in relation to assisting the organization to prepare for change. 

3. Describe five areas you would assess to prepare the organization for change.

4. Describe the methods of assessment you would use to assess each of the five areas you have identified in the previous question.

5. Describe how you would use the information you collected from your assessment methods to determine if your organization is ready for change. Use examples to illustrate how you would use content analysis and/or force field analysis. 

6. Describe two strategies that would facilitate organization readiness for change. 

Completion Guidelines

Please consider the following questions while completing your assignment:

• Is my report written clearly and does it use proper grammar?
• Did I answer all the questions and support my statements with examples?
• Did I integrate my thoughts, reflections, and learning in a holistic way?

Open Learning Faculty Member Grading Matrix

The following are tips and guidelines for you to follow as you complete Assignment 2.

Questions Tips and Guidelines Feedback

Is word count appropriate?

Are proper grammar and spelling used?

Does assignment include introduction, summary and citations?  

Question 1. Discuss the importance of preparing the organization for change. Use references and actual anecdotes where possible.  Give examples. An example could be preparing for change such as expecting something of someone or an organization but the change did not happen because the person or the organization did not have the skill or capacity to follow through with the change.  

Question 2. Describe the managerial or leadership roles, skills, and strategies facilitating positive change outcomes. In relation to assisting the organization to prepare for change.

Discuss a general role for the manager based on the readings. Identify a manager's general skills such as communication skills, listening skills, observation skills, motivational skills. Refer to the readings such as Senge et al. Another example is Cummings and Worley who also discuss specific change strategies.  

Question 3. Describe five areas you would assess to prepare the organization for change.

Identify five areas to assess from what is included in the course readings and content or from your workplace experiences with change. Include a rationale for each of the five areas with examples.  

Question 4. Describe the methods of assessment you would use to assess each of the five areas you have identified in the above question.

This answer deals with information in the course as well as in the readings about how to gather data. Comment on the importance of this assessment and identify the amount of time it would take to complete the assessment.  

Question 5. Describe how you would use the information you collected from your assessment methods to determine if your organization is ready for change. Use examples to illustrate how you would use content analysis and/or force field analysis.

Indicate how content analysis, or force-field analysis, or a combination of the two, would indicate if the organization is ready or not for change. With examples, illustrate the use of the methods to determine the status of the organization in terms of readiness for change. Examples should be provided.  

Question 6. Describe two strategies that would facilitate organizational readiness for change.

From the list of strategies suggested in the readings, select two strategies that would be most appropriate for their organization in terms of readiness for change. Cite references to the readings with a rationale for each of your chosen strategies.  

Total marks possible.