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Expert Answers to Biz Questions
Listen in! Pick up some expert advice to a reader's question that we selected from CyberSchmooz.
Understanding Organizational Change
They say the largest room in life is the room for improvement, and time has proven that to be true. Organizational change is the complete overhaul of a particular sector of a company or the entire way of operation. It can also be moving a business from one form of running affairs to a better one, usually with a view to keep up with trends in the world.
A company may choose to transform its technologies, culture, infrastructure, or processes. Sometimes, this change happens due to a merger, massive employment, or significant growth. In other words, an organizational change can happen intentionally or unintentionally. However, a company can maximize the change and make a positive difference. Here is an article that explains the process in detail.
Changes in an organization tend to be difficult when it comes to adaptation. It is always best to ease employees affected by the shift slowly into it. That may mean informing them ahead of time and giving training to help them easily adapt. If they understand how it will help the company grow, they may be better able to adjust, accept, and work with it for the good of the business.
Organizational Change: Types
It is important to know that organizational change covers several aspects of a business. It is not a term used solely for changing one part. Sometimes, it is slow, touching one part of the business before another. Other times, it is a complete overhaul of the entire company.
In light of the above, it can be separated into two types: transformative and adaptive. Transformative change is usually a broad shift in how a business operates. It may involve changing the staff, structure, strategy, vision and mission, and operation processes.
The shift will take energy, time, and resources to complete when it is this broad. Whatever the case, it tends to take the company to a better place. For instance, a company can move from analog data-keeping to the digital type, which is a significant move that affects everyone and everything in the business.
On the other hand, adaptive change is a smaller scale type that affects one aspect at a time. It usually happens as the leadership of an organization recognizes the need. And as it happens, the leadership can keep changing and modifying the process. You can consider an upgrade in the computer operating system an adaptive one. Check this out: https://online.hbs.edu/ to learn more about them.
Causes
Several factors cause organizational change, and while it does not always seem favorable, it is usually necessary and beneficial. The following are some of the factors facing employers or heads of departments, making the change inevitable:
- Acquiring and implementing new software and other technologies for growth
- New people taking over the helm of affairs, whether over the entire company or within various departments
- Taking on and using new models of doing business
- Alterations in the structure of the organization
How to Prepare
Change, whether small or big, is sometimes met with some resistance. A few people may have a more challenging time adapting to organizational change than others. Therefore, it is crucial to determine whether or not it must be done. Sometimes, it is not as necessary and may be more disruptive for the people than helpful.
When you determine this, write down its necessity for the advancement of the business, ensuring you understand the critical role it plays. Then, you can effectively pass the message to colleagues or employees to get them on your side. Otherwise, it may be an exercise in futility if only a few people understand and support the process.
The next step is to map out how the process will affect the business and the projected success. It must include the effects on staff, structure, clients, and other aspects of the organization. The change must be relevant to the business, both in the immediate and future.
And there must be plans to sustain and maintain the process until it takes full effect and becomes a regular part of daily operations. Bear in mind that a few difficulties may come up along the way, and you have to anticipate them and have plans to handle them without jeopardizing the entire process.
In addition, keep a tab on how it is progressing and collate data. Train staff to handle the changes and make adjustments where necessary. These will help you succeed and even help other companies make transitions in the future.
Conclusion
Organizational change is an integral part of the growth of any business. Managers and department heads tend to experience it a few times throughout their careers, whether with a particular organization or another. Therefore, having the requisite skills to handle it when the time comes.
Train employees to adapt to it and prepare the entire organization to transition smoothly. But before these things, ensure the company needs it, and if it does, determine whether it is transformative or adaptive. Sometimes, a little steer in the right direction is all that is necessary to move to the next level.
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