Organizational Change
Change can be a difficult transition however in the world of business whether it is planned or unplanned one can expect change to happen. The definition of change is, “the coordination of a structured period of transition from situation A to situation B in order to achieve lasting change within an organization”. (BNET Business Dictionary)
How the change is accepted and adapted to can be the difference of success or failure of an organization. There are different types of change and various reasons as to why change may occur. This paper will discuss the factors that drive organizational change through life experiences as well as factual information.
Types of Organizational Change
First order change maintains and develops the organization. Second order change entails changing the nature of the organization. An example of first order change (incremental change) Trend Setters’ Academy is a cosmetology school that instructs students in the arts and science of beautification. When a new student enters they are instructed on the basics and gradually through a nine week class they are taught the basics of hair, skin and nails. Once each student has accumulated 300 clock hours they are given a test of their knowledge which has prepared them for the clinic floor and there they begin to practice on clients and learning advanced methods. Ultimately, the training leads to a mock state exam administered by the Kentucky State Board followed with certification allowing each individual the ability to become gainfully employed in the field of cosmetology. The change that is seen in each individual is their gradual skills developing.
Second order (discontinuous change) the instructional staff at Trend Setters’ Academy are continually working with classes and individual students to become licensed cosmetologist. It is the task of each instructor to ensure that each individual student obtains continued knowledge from zero hours through 1800 clock hours. The transformation of each student from each level leads up to a licensed cosmetologist changing the individual that walked in the academy with little to no knowledge. Discontinuous change is the transformation of the core and a student beginning has changed their core of knowledge over the course of 1800 clock hours.
The changes that occurred are not in the organization itself but in the individual students and the teaching staff that continually change from beginning to end.
Change
As with any unfamiliar situation there will be doubt and with change one can experience the same instinct of the unknown and unfamiliar. As humans we become accustomed to the status quo and why change it if it is not broken reasoning. When an organization makes changes it can be unsettling employees as the perceived conception is change is ‘bad’. Change is not necessarily good or bad how change is accepted and adapted to can make it successful or a failure.
Change
Organizational change is a necessity without change an organization is left behind not being able to compete with the competition. There are many aspects to change such as planning, implementation, and managing each aspect is in and of itself an important step in change.
Common reasons that an organization implements change can stem from downsizing, technological advances, mergers and or acquisitions. Downsizing organizations is seen as a second order change because it is a change that will affect the organization nature of the business. Technological advances can be traced back to many years past as technology changes daily it can be an organizations best friend or enemy. Improving technology is proficiency in all aspects of the organization. What once was mailed invoice has now become an electronic invoice that can be paid electronically. Mergers happen often and when they do often times employees will see major changes as well as some may no longer have a position in the organization. Mergers happen to improve one organizations profit and ultimately shutting down competition. An acquisition, Trend Setters’ Academy was acquired by its present owner more than seven years ago, a change that was not expected. Once a secure place of employment became an unfamiliar change that left the staff unsure of what was to take place.
The acquisition of Trend Setters’ Academy as uneasy as it was has since become a welcome change that has allowed for the growth of the institution as well as personal growth for all the staff members.
Conclusion
Although change can bring about uncertainty it is a necessary part of any organization. Without change there can be no growth accepting change and adapting to the changes are key to a successful organization. There are those that contend that change is something new and those that contend change have been continually occurring since the 1900’s. Organizations from the 1900’s have without a doubt changed as society continues to change organizations will need to make changes they may be first order or second order changes but they will be a necessity to continue to succeed. References
Bingham, M. (July 2010). Student Handbook. Trend Setters’ Academy Handbook, 10(10), 3-10.
Palmer, I., Dunford, R., & Akin, G. (2006). Managing Organizational Change. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. unknown, U. (March 2003). BNET Dictionary. Retrieved from http://www.BNET.Com