Because change invariably threatens the status quo,
it inherently implies political activity. Internal change agents typically are
individuals high in the organization who have a lot to lose from change. What
if they are no longer the ones the organization values? Politics suggests that
the impetus for change is more likely to come from outside change agents.
Managers who have spent their entire careers with a single organization and
eventually achieve a senior position in the hierarchy are often major
impediments to change. You should expect that long-time career executives will
be sources of resistance. This, incidentally, explains why boards of directors
that recognize the imperative for the rapid introduction of second-order change
in their organizations frequently turn to outside candidates for new
leadership. This activity allows you to observe (albeit from the sidelines) the
change process in the organization from a senior level point of view.
References
Palmer,
I., Dunford, R., & Akin, G. (2009) Managing organizational change: A
multiple perspectives approach
Improving
supply chain performance through auditing: A change management perspective
Outsourcing
as a change management tool in libraries and documentation centers.
ASSIGNMENT:
Referring back to the organization you chose for Week 1, (SEARS HOLDING CORPORATION) search the
Library databases and internet for articles that reveal any power struggles.
Information uncovering internal power struggles and disagreements regarding
organizational change can often be found in non-scholarly sources such as
newspapers, magazines, and trade publications (journals published for
industrial association groups). Articles that mention executives leaving their
jobs, board members being replaced, etc. are often indicative of organizational
change. Also consider searching the Mergent database within the Library for
information about company employees and company history. Using the information
from your internet/Library search, and your text suggest (as best you can) what
changes have occurred, and what the changes suggest about the internal politics
of the organization and what these changes suggest for the future. Incorporate
this company specific information with scholarly journal articles discussing
change management best practices. Make sure to demonstrate in your paper a
comprehensive understanding of the importance, challenges and best practices of
managing change within an organization.
Support your paper with at least four (4) journal articles (two must be peer
reviewed) from outside research beyond the textbook.
Length: 10-12 pages not including title and reference pages. Include also a
diagram as part of the 10-12 pages.
