Saturday, January 25, 2020

Identify How Employees Resist To Organizational Change Management Essay

Identify How Employees Resist To Organizational Change Management Essay The purpose of this paper is to review recently published research to identify how employees resist to organizational change and which change strategies could be used in order to minimize employee resistance to organizational change. In the literature review it is discussed why employees show resistance to change. Communication and Participation are selected for discussion as significant change strategies after identifying various other change strategies that can be adopted by the organization to minimize the level of resistance. At the end of this seminar paper, the limitations of this study are discussed and recommendations are made for future researches. Keywords: Organizational Change, Change strategies, Employee Resistance, Introduction Organizations today are facing more changes than ever before (Conner, 1992, cited in Wanberg and Bans, 2000). As they strive to more competitive edge, they are reorganizing, downsizing, focusing on incremental changes and radical changes through the implementation of new technologies. The success rate of change initiatives is dependent on diverse number of obstacles. Among them the main obstacle to organizational change achievement is human resistance. Employees reactions to change are considered critical for the success of change effort (Piderit, 2000). Bovey and Hede (2001) cited numerous studies including one of 500 Australian organizations indicating resistance as the most common problem faced by management in implementing change. Despite this claim that it is difficult for the individuals to cope the change that is why they try to resist. Human resistance may be the main hurdle in the success of organizational change. Researchers and practitioners have been working on employee r esistance to organizational change from the decades. But they may be defining the phenomenon inconsistently and studying it incompletely. It has been reported that resistance is likely to occur because the change process involves moving form known to unknown (Coghlan, 1993; Steinburg, 1992; Myers and Robbins, 1991; Nadler, 1981, cited in Bovey and Hede, 2001). Each individual resist the change in a different manner, it is important to assess how individuals resist changing and why so that manager could select an appropriate way to overcome resistance (Kotter and Schlesinger 1979). Much of the organizations face difficulties with employee resistance. Successfully managing resistance is one of the major challenges faced by change initiators and is the more important aspect of change process. Different researcher proposed different change strategies that would help in successfully implementing change process and could also be helpful in minimizing employee resistance to change. Focus of this study is to identify different change strategies and to highlight those change strategies that play major role in minimizing much of the resistance by the employees. Problem Statement In support of organizational change practice, this study attempts to answer the question: Which change strategies are most helpful in minimizing employee resistance to change? .Scope of Study Much of this paper will cover how employees resist to organizational change and which change strategies are most beneficial in minimizing the employee resistance in the course of change implementation. The goal of this paper is to provide change agents and managers with the theoretical insight to employee resistance to organizational change and practical guidance in dealing and ultimately minimizing employee resistance to organizational change, based on previous research. Literature Review Resistance to Change Change is defined as a move from the present current state to some desired future state and a denial to that movement is said to be the resistance. The studies discussed under this subject suggest a comprehensive definition of employee resistance to organizational change. Resistance to change is a concept explaining why efforts to organizational change fall short of expectations and usually fail. The word Resistance is always considered a negative connotation. Organizational change often incurs two types of responses: positive or negative, supportive and resistant etc. Resistance is mainly due to the fact that key interests of employees get at risk during the change process. The key concerns of the individuals upon the announcement of the change that may affect resistance to change may include threats and benefits of change, personal capabilities to accomplish change (Dennis G. Erwin Andrew N. Garman, 2009).Dianne and Amrik (1998) explained resistance to change has been recognized a s an important factor that can influence the success or failure of organizational change effort. Resistance if not properly handled leads towards the failure of the organizational change. So resistance is defined as the negative employee attitude with counter-productive behaviors. Resistance among employees arises because of the negative feelings they have about the change and these negative feelings arise because all the information regarding change process is not properly communicated to them by the management themselves, their only source of information is either word of mouth or local newspapers. So because of these sources of information a feeling arise in them that management itself is not very clear about the change and its objectives and as a result this causes them to resist (Tony proctor Ioanna Doukakis 2003). Change Strategies Kotter and Schlesinger (1979) identified six strategies to organizational change such as Education, Participation, Facilitation, Negotiation, Manipulation, and Coercion. Education means informing and communicating the desired changes and giving reasons for them. Participation is to involve the potential resisters and even employees in designing change plan and implementing change. Facilitation is a process that includes training employees in new skills and giving them emotional support by listening to them. Negotiation is offering incentives to potential resisters. Manipulation means involving the selective use of information and conscious structuring of events. And finally coercion is basically forcing people to accept change and threatening them. Focus of this study to identify those strategies that play a major role in minimizing employee resistance to change. Out of Kotter and Schlesinger (1979) mentioned strategies, communication and participation will be the focal point here. Purpose is to study the role of these two strategies (Communication and participation) in minimizing employee resistance to change. These strategies as factors of change process influence individual attitudes and resistances toward change. Communication Different researchers defined the concept of change communication differently. For example, Kotter and Schlesinger (1979) defined communication as informing and communicating the desired changes and giving reasons for them. According to Lewis (2006), Communication about the change is dissemination of information that is the dispersal of knowledge, ideas, training, facts and respects or directives of action concerning the change. Oreg (2006) defined communication as the amount and quality of information that is provided to employees about the change. Van Dam et al. (2007) defined communication as providing information about the change is to keep employees knowledgeable of anticipated events such as specific changes that will occur, the consequences of the changes and new roles of the employees. Effective communication is the main reason for the success of organizations as it helps the managers to get employees involved in the particular task of change and thus helping them in implementing change successfully (Mary Welch Paul R. Jackson, 2007). It has been suggested that inadequate information leads to more uncertainty about specific changes because it will give rise to feelings such as how change will affect their job and organization or how to respond to that change (Milliken, 1987, cited in Wanberg Banas, 2000). It has been proposed that in order to improve employees attitude towards organizational change, information about the change helps to reduce employee anxiety and uncertainty (K.I. Miller Monge, 1985; Schweiger DeNisis, 1991, cited in Wanberg Banas, 2000). Lewis (2006) defined that communication is critical in the process of creating and articulating vision; channeling feedback between implementers, key decision makers, and key users; providing social support; forestalling and constructive use of resistance and assessing and promoting results. Study of Lewis describes how employee experience communication of change messages; the types of channels they use to communicate with implementers; and finally the qualities of implementers change communication that employees associated with the change outcomes. Employees perceive the communication about the change differently than do implementers themselves. Implementers usually have clear idea about the change process as they themselves the change agents whereas employees have lesser knowledge about the change program, formal goals and progress of the change. Participation Kotter and Schlesinger (1979) defined participation is a process to involve the potential resisters and even employees in designing change plan and implementing change. Lewis (2006) defined participation as employees cooperation during the change initiatives is the key to success to organizational changes. It has been argued that participation lead to qualitatively better strategic decision (Kim and Mauborgne, 1998, cited in Lines, 2004). Giangreco and Peccei (2005) reported that more participation of employees in change process is associated with more positive attitudes towards the change and it will minimize resistance to change. Wanberg Banas (2000) proposed that higher level of participation in the change process is related to more positive view of the change. Higher level of involvement is associated with a view that changes are beneficial. Lewis (2006) explained that Participatory structures in organization that value the input of participants and that allow them opportunities to influence decision making are more likely to succeed in reaching the desired goals. So, employees who feel that they have more participatory opportunities and the organization value their inputs are more likely to adopt the change process and are less likely to observe resistance to change. Lack of participatory involvement of employees in change process will predict more resistance to change. The more the employee input is valued and is allowed to participate in the change process, the less will be the resistance. Lines (2004) studied the influence of participation on resistance to change. Lines identified a strong relationship exists between employee perceptions of their participation in change process and reduced resistance to change. Lines defined participation as involvement of employees in the initial assessment and development of change plan. Lines suggested that participation allows more interaction between the change agents and change recipients who will help them to overcome their resistance to change. Lines concluded that use of participation will lead towards successful implementation of change. Van Dam at el (2007) reported that participation of employees in the change planning and implementation process increases the change acceptance. Participation often offers number of benefits: such as increased understanding of the circumstances that make change necessary and a sense of ownership and control over the change process increases the readiness for change. Van Dam et al. found a significant relationship between resistance to change and change strategies such as communication and participation. Dianne and Amrik (1998) reported that participation of employees in change process is the best method of handling resistance. It has been suggested that involving employees in learning, planning and implementation stages of the change process tends to increase employee commitment to change and will ultimately lowers the resistance to change (Lewin, 1991; Coch French, 1948, cited in Dianne Amrik, 1998). Employees must be given the opportunity to be involved in every aspect of change process and they must be given the opportunity to provide feedback. Involving management and employees in the change process will help to overcome many of the difficulties experience during the change process. Discussion Literature indicated a significant relationship between change strategy communication about the change, participation of employees in change process and employee resistance to change. If there is higher level of communication about the change process, there will be lesser employee resistance to change. If the employee tends to participate in the change process, there will be lesser resistance to change. After going through the above literature it is established that the communication as a change strategy helps in minimizing resistance to change. Resistance to change can be minimized by informing about the change and providing reasons for change (Kotter and Schlesinger 1979). Communicating about the change, its consequences and new roles of the employees will play a positive role in minimizing resistance to change (Van Dam at el 2008). Effective communication helps in minimizing resistance to change by involving employees in the change process and implementing it (Mary Welch Paul R. Jackson, 2007). Minimal information about the change process results in uncertainty and ambiguity. Individuals being uncertain and ambiguous about the change process will incorporate ideas that how change will affect them, their department and their organization and how to respond to change, such feelings usually give rise to resistance to change so adequate information about the change facilitates lowering the level of resistance to change (Milliken, 1987, cited in Wanberg Banas, 2000). (K.I. Miller Monge, 1985; Schweiger DeNisis, 1991, cited in Wanberg Banas, 2000) develop a connection between flow of information and acceptance level of employees in a way that sufficient level of information increase the level of acceptance among employees which in turn decreases the resistance. Lewis (2006) examined a relationship between communication of the change and employee resistance to change. Lewis found that communication of change influences the resistance to change and if the employees receive more information about the change, there will be less resistance to change. Participation of employees in the change process in one way or other assists managers to overcome the resistance. One way is the involvement of employees in the change process that has significant effect on individuals attitudes towards the change itself, which in turn directly influence their reactions to change. Individuals who are more involved in change process will have positive attitudes towards change, so they will react to it in less negative way (Giangreco and Peccei 2005). Wanberg Banass study in 2000 also supported the above mentioned findings. Lewis (2006) proposed that if employees are not allowed to participate in change process, they might feel that their opinions and suggestions are not wanted and valued. So they will actively resist change. According to Van Dam at el (2007) participation offers certain benefits to employees which minimize the level of resistance by the employees. Dianne and Amrik (1998) study reveals that the participation increases the level of commitment among employees and decreases their level of resistances towards a particular change. Limitations of Study This study is limited to reviewing previously published research involving employee resistance to change and change strategies which will help in reducing employee resistance to organizational change. Study focused on two major change strategies: communication and participation and their relationship with the employee resistance to change. Impact of these strategies (communication and participation) is studied on employee resistance to change unilaterally meaning that resistance is considered only a single dimension concept. Future Research Present study focused solely on the relationship between change strategies (communication and participation) and employee resistance to change as a one-dimensional concept. Oreg (2006) found that not enough information, as well as too much information about the change may be detrimental and can increase employees resistance. He suggested that moderate amount of information about the change would be optimal when introducing organizational change. So, future research could be done in order to identify the contexts and processes in which information can reduce the resistance instead of enhancing it. As there are other strategies of change such as Facilitation, Negotiation, Manipulation, and Coercion which also play a role in minimizing resistance to change. Facilitation will help overcome the resistance when people are fearful and anxious about the change. Negotiation helps deal with resistance when people are losing through the change and they have enough power to influence the change process. So offering them incentive will help defuse their major resistance. Manipulation is helpful in resisting change by co-optation i.e. involving an individual in design or implementation of change. It is relatively easier, quicker and cheaper solution to the problem Future research could further explore the relationship between these strategies and employee resistance to change. -à Ãƒâ€˜Ãƒâ€™ ÑÒ ÑÒà  -

Friday, January 17, 2020

Walt Whitman- Humans and Nature

Walt Whitman relates humans to nature in many of his poems. He often refers to us being part of the circle of life. Whitman believes in the idea that humans never really die. â€Å"I celebrate myself, and sing myself,† is one poem that he relates himself and humankind to nature. In this poem, Whitman offers the idea that we are made from nature. One line reads, â€Å"My tongue, every atom of my blood, form’d from this soil, this air†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Whitman also believes that humans live on after death. In â€Å"A child said What is the grass? † Whitman asks what has become of people who have died.He answers this by writing, â€Å"They are alive and well somewhere, The smallest sprout shows there is really no death. † This is an example of his belief that life goes on, even after death. Whitman talks more on this life after death in â€Å"The spotted hawk swoops by. † He says that when we die, we turn to the dirt, and he says if he is missed, to look under our shoes. To finish his poem he says, â€Å"Failing to fetch me at first keep encouraged, Missing me one place search another, I stop somewhere waiting for you. † In â€Å"A Noiseless Patient Spider,† Whitman compares humans to a spider in nature.He says as spiders throw out their web, so do we also try to throw out our â€Å"web† to make connections with the universe. For example, we are now trying to decide on a college and career that will bridge to the next part of our life. He says that humankind is, â€Å"Ceaselessly musing, venturing, throwing, seeking the spheres to connect them†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Walt Whitman was a great American poet who felt in sync with nature. In most of his poems, he tried to encompass the connection between nature and human beings. With use of vivid adjectives and verbs, he has made himself a great poet in American history.

Thursday, January 9, 2020

Pronounce the French R Perfectly

The French letter r is one of the two most difficult sounds in French to pronounce for most people (u is the other one). The r is a kind of raspy sound pronounced in the back of the throat. There is no equivalent sound in English. Take a look at step-by-step instructions on how to pronounce the French r. French R Words Hear different r words and their correct pronunciation in French:   Ã‚  Ã‚  ronronner: to purr  Ã‚  Ã‚  rouge: red  Ã‚  Ã‚  crà ©neau: gap  Ã‚  Ã‚  farine: flour  Ã‚  Ã‚  sucre: sugar  Ã‚  Ã‚  frà ¨re: brother Many French students have trouble with the letter  r. Follow step-by-step instructions  to learn how to pronounce the French r: Open your mouth.Close your throat as if youre going to gargle or to avoid swallowing a mouthful of liquid, and say  k  carefully, several times.Pay attention to where in your throat the k sound is made. Well call this the  K place.Begin slowly closing your throat until you can almost feel the K place. Your throat should be only partially constricted.Tense the muscles around the K place.Gently push air through your partially-constricted throat.Practice saying ra-ra-ra (where r steps 4-6) every day. Tips Try not to think of this letter as an r. The French r is nothing like the  English r  (pronounced in the middle of the mouth) or the  Spanish r  (pronounced in the front of the mouth). The French r is pronounced in the throat. The French r sounds a lot like the ch sound in Loch Ness and the kh in Arabic transcription, as in Khalid. Remember that practice makes perfect! Sources R. Lawless English, 2019. R. Spanish Consonant, Lawless English, 2019.

Wednesday, January 1, 2020

Essay on The Right to Bear Arms a Constitutional Conflict

The act of bearing a firearm was initially represented as a duty in England, up until King Alfred converted this duty into a right. By doing so, individuals were allowed to use firearms for two purposes: self-defense and hunting. In time, â€Å"kings chose to trust their subjects with arms and to modify and supplement the militia if need be† (Malcom 3). Individuals were given the right to bear arms in exchange for their participation in England’s militia, which consists of â€Å"able-bodied male citizens declared by law as being subject to call to military service† (â€Å"Militia†). Additional implementations were then put into effect, one of them being King John’s recognition of the right to bear arms in the Magna Carta. This Angevin Charter will†¦show more content†¦Although America gained its independence, its main concern still remains: to which degree should its militia be controlled. Certain representatives believed that the militia should be abolished. Others showed a preference for a selective militia that did not incorporate society in its entirety. Some considered amending the meaning that was given to militia and appropriate it to America’s Constitution. â€Å"The convention decided to give the new congress the authority to determine the future composition of the militia† (Cornell 43). By doing so, America’s aspirations consist of a standing army, a well-regulated militia and the right to bear arms. The new congress decided to create a militia that would be just as important at a state level than at a national level, â€Å"the new national government was given the authority to organize, arm and discipline the militia. The states would maintain some measure of control by retaining the power over the ‘appointment of the officers, and authority for training the militia according to the discipline prescribed.† (Cornell 43). James Madison helped draft the constitution of the United States of America and he became a leader in the ratification of the Constitution. He is known as the father of the constitution. James Madison’s initial formulation of the Second Amendment went asShow MoreRelatedThe Second Amendment Of The United States1725 Words   |  7 Pagesthat the Amendment protects an individual’s right to own guns. Others, that it does no more than protect the right of states to maintain militias† (Cornell). The Second Amendment of the constitution gives citizens the right to bear arms, and is therefore one of the most important laws of the nation. This amendment holds an important value to our nation because, it prevents tyranny but, it also protects, spreads, and contributes to the causes of human rights. 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These are a few questions that come up when gun control is brought into a conversation. Firearms are purchased for recreation, self-defense, and even just to exercise constitutional rights. HoweverRead MoreThe Constitutional System Within The United Kingdom1416 Words   |  6 PagesA constitutional system within a country could be classified as one of the most important structures for democracy; it should not only illustrate the structures and power of a government, but also state the relationship between government and individuals. Constitutionalism can be classified into two distinct categories: a codified written Constitutions (ie: United States), and an uncodified unwritten constitution (ie: United Kingdom). Some consider the UK constitution as a risk to the democraticRead MoreUs Constitution Essay1653 Words   |  7 PagesUnited States Constitution is still relevant. When our founding fathers wrote the Constitution, it was written according to their needs in the eighteenth century. 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