Topic 7 : Change Management and Innovation
1. Describe the two change factors which influence the management of an organisation :
- External factor
Political
Economy
Sociocultural
Technology
Competition
- Internal factors
2. Explain the importance of the role played by a manager , as an agent of change in an
organisation:……………???
3. Discuss the two metaphoric differences of change, namely “calm waters” and “white water
rapids” :
- Calm waters metaphor :
looks upon the organisation as a big ship which is crossing a calm ocean
Only a temporary disruption in an otherwise calm situation and the organisation is at
a high stage of certainty
- White water rapids metaphor :
Organisations are likened to a raft sailing on rough seas
Takes into consideration an uncertain and fluid environment
4. Calm waters metaphor
5. Explain the three reasons why people resist change and five techniques to reduce resistance
of change :
- Why do people resist change
Uncertainty
Worries about individual losses
The belief that the change is not for the good of the organisation
- Techniques to reduce resistance to change
6. What can be changed by an organisation :
- Structure
- Technology
- People
7. What is stress :
- Stress is a dynamic state of tension, the individual is faced with the opportunities,
constraints or extraordinary demands.
8. Explain the five causes and three symptoms of stress :
- Five causes of stress
Task demands
Role demands
Interpersonal demands
Organisational structure
Organisational leadership
- Three symptoms of stress
Physiological signs
Psychological signs
Behaviour signs
9. Personal factors :
- Personal factors include the family issues, financial problems and one’s inherent
personality. There are workers who bring personal problems to work.
Type A behaviour : classified as a person who is punctual or responds quickly.
Governed by a competitive spirit and have a limited time to relax.
Type B behaviour : classified as a person who does not experience time-related
stress.
10. Explain the three sets of factors that stimulate innovation :
- Structural factor
An organic structure stimulates innovation positively. This structure has a low level of
job specialisation, has minimum rules and practices greater empowerment
compared to the mechanistic structure
- Culture factor
Eight characteristics common in a culture of innovation :
1) Acceptance of uncertainty
2) Tolerance for the impractical
3) Low external control
4) Risk tolerance
5) Mistakes looked upon as learning experiences
6) Conflict tolerance
7) Focus on the outcome and not the means
8) Focu on open systems
- Human resource factor
Innovative organisations encourage active training and development of the workers
so that workers knowledge is always up-to-date. Such organisations also provide
work security to reduce the risk of dismissal if mistakes occur.
11. Change is an element that all individuals, groups and organisations must continuously cope
in order to survive. It is affected by external and internal factors.
12. External factors include political, economic, sociocultural , technology and competition.
13. Internal factors are the result of internal operations within the organisations.
14. Every change that occurs needs a catalyst to initiate, encourage or speed up the change
process