Identifying Strategic Change Needs
Answer 1
The following report is based on the analysis and determination of the strategic aims and organizational changes that are to be undertaken by the management of a courier company based in Sydney named Fast Track Couriers. The business was established close to 15 years back and it generally delivers medium to large sized packages across Sydney. The organization has recently appointed a new external change management consultant to usher in new and effective changes to the organization. It aims to achieve a number of different results by ushering in such changes that includes the likes of;
- The organization aims to expand their operations in the metropolitan area and aims to increase the market share by 7.5%
- Development of an integrated approach to distribution management by implementing the different types of technologies like PDA and GPS
- Development and maintenance of a cohesive and well motivated workforce
Answer 2
- People- The people mentioned in this change management process are the customers and the employees combined. The employees who works for Fast Track Couriers and the clients or the customers the company serve can be included in this particular list. The management must formulate an efficient change management policy to ensure the happiness of the customers as well as the employees.
- Process-The implementation of the PDA and the GPS in the organizational system of Fast Track couriers will surely serve as a competitive advantage for the organization. It is important for the organization to be advanced and smart in its operations and will also turn them much more sustainable in nature.
- Technology- The technological advances in the organization must be implemented at the earliest to gain a strategic advantage for the business. Apart from the use of GPS system in the trucks, the company can also use automatic doors which will reduce the energy and time of manual processing and will make it easier for the drivers to load and unload the goods to and from the warehouses and the delivery points.
- Structure-The most important change has to be in the organizational structure itself as because an efficient organizational structure can change the course of the business and lead it to the right path of success.
Answer 3
- Technological Trends- According to the case scenario the drivers working for Fast Track Couriers have reacted negatively to changes earlier and they will supposedly do the same when the new changes are implemented. This is because they will strongly oppose the GPS system as because they will have the feeling that they are not being trusted. Apart from this they will also strongly oppose the reduction of one driver from the truck just because of the installation of the automatic doors.
- Ethical Trends- As mentioned earlier the reduction in the number of drivers and keeping a vigil on the movement of the drivers at every now and then will surely attract huge resistance
Answer 4
- Changes due to Performance Gaps- A proper and effective training program implemented by the management of the Fast Track Couriers can help in the identification of the performance gaps of the organization. The performance gaps can also be identified using the GPS system as it will directly show the timings at when the items are being delivered. Therefore such type of organizational procedures can help in the reduction of the performance gaps.
- Changes due to Business Opportunities- The increasing demand for courier services and the vast market to exploit provides the perfect business opportunity for the organization. Therefore the change in the business organizations is a must for gaining business opportunities.
- Changes due to Threats- Threats like growth of other businesses, technological changes of other organizations and better communication system must be addressed by implementing radical changes in the organization.
- Changes due to Management Decisions- Management decisions are one of the main considerations for implementing changes in the business structure.
Answer 5
Summary of consultation
Areas of changes |
Type of Specialist |
Reason to choose this specialist |
Refinements recommended |
Human Resource |
HR specialist |
HR specialist will help the organization to manage the communications, coordination, recruitment, selection and retention purposes |
Training of the HR Manager as well as the other HR executives. The training can both be at the start of the tenure of the employee or on job training. The specialist will put stress over On-Job Training as because it will help the employees to learn new HR techniques according to the need of the moment |
Finance |
Financial Expert |
The financial manager is new to his post and thus an expert advice is needed for helping him out. |
Helping in the preparation of the financial reports and also providing an accurate financial planning for the changes that are to be implemented in the organization |
IT Department |
IT Engineer |
IT engineer has been appointed to help the IT team to implement and maintain the new systems like GPS, PDA effectively and efficiently. |
Training program will be implemented to make the It team get a strong knowledge about the working and maintenance of the new system |
Drivers |
IT consultant |
The IT consultant will teach the drivers on the use of the new technologies |
Pay rise will help the organization to get the consent of the drivers on using the technology |
Answer 6
Who |
How |
When |
Employees |
Meetings and face to face interactions |
22nd of May (employee interaction meeting) |
Suppliers |
Monthly or quarterly meetings |
12th of June (Supplier Meeting) |
Customers |
Road Advertisements or Online Advertisements |
All the time |
Answer 7
Assessment 2
Answer 1
The following assessment shows the main changes that are to be taken in the organization with immediate effect. This includes the likes of the implementation of the PDA and GPS technology on the trucks by the first quarter of 2012 as well as the implementation of the one person per truck policy by using automatic lift gates in the same year only. Both the goals of the business are important in their own ways. The company wants to utilize the raw hours of work more efficiently as well as job performance measurement for the different kinds of training needs. Apart from this the management also plans to efficiently use the different resources and reduce the possibility of any sort of accidents amongst the drivers while lifting heavy weights. The chapter also provides a clear picture of the organizational structure starting with the General Manager and ending with the administrative support. The task of each of these people is also shown in this particular chapter.
Answer 2
- Change goal and its impact
Change goal |
Who is Impacted |
How they are impacted |
When the impacts will be realised |
Implement PDA |
People or the drivers are impacted |
||
Implement GPS |
People or the drivers are impacted |
GPS system totally brings an end to the manual entry system of the drivers |
The time when real time information about the movement and delivery of the trucks is obtained |
Implement Automatic Lift Gates |
People or the drivers are impacted |
Automatic lift gates will reduce the manual labour of the drivers |
The impact will be realised once the automatic gates helps the drivers to reduce accidents by lifting heavy loads |
Implement One driver policy |
Processes are impacted |
Reduction of a driver/helper |
Movement will be fast and time will be saved |
- Cost benefit analysis
change requirements |
costs of changes |
possible benefits of change |
assess the benefits against the costs and risks |
categorise changes (feasible, may be feasible and not feasible) |
GPS devices |
$1000 |
Real Time tracking |
Benefits of real time tracking of the trucks |
Feasible |
WHS devices |
$2000 |
Real Time updates |
Benefits of the Updates |
Not Feasible |
PDA Devices |
$4500 |
Easy access |
Feasible |
|
Automated doors |
$10000 |
Reduction of manual labour |
Reduction of accidental chances |
Feasible |
- Risk Analysis
Identified risks |
likelihood |
Impact/possible consequences |
Mitigation strategy |
Risks from the implementation of the changes |
Huge as because there is a chance of huge resistance because of the changes |
Leads to a chaotic situation in the workplace, employees may go for strikes which may disrupt the daily working of the business |
Implementation of proper training programs and arranging regular face to face meetings with the employee unions to make them understand the advantages of the changes |
Risk from organizational failure |
Organizational failure is a huge risk as because changes may lead to the failure of the business |
Loss of business as organizational failure may lead to loss of competitive advantage in the market |
Management of Fast Track Couriers must implement the changes gradually to ensure its proper implementation in the business |
Risks from technological failure |
The company may fail to adopt the technology |
Technological failure may lead to data breach and security of the company may be compromised |
Technological failure can be averted by appointing IT experts and other technological experts in the company |
- Stakeholder management plan
Key stakeholders |
Their concerns |
Strategies to address their concern |
consultation methods |
Employees |
Decrease in the manual labour may result in unemployment |
Holding regular meetings and assuring them of no unemployment policies of the company |
Meeting and face to face talking with the employees or their representatives |
Drivers |
The drivers again fear of unemployment in the wake of the implementation of one driver policy |
Arranging training programs for the drivers and assuring them of no such unemployment policy |
Arranging training sessions |
Shareholders |
Success of the change policy |
Shareholders must be assured in board meetings |
Holding joint sittings in board meetings to address the concerns of the shareholders |
Customers |
New systems in which the company will operate |
Customers must be addressed through good services |
Better services by using latest technologies |
Audience |
Message |
Date |
Methods of communication |
Responsible person |
HR employees |
The HR department needs to implement latest techniques to evaluate a candidate faster and recruit the best employees |
19th May |
Meetings and Training sessions |
The responsible person is the HR manager and the Human Resource Expert who have been appointed by the mentioned organization. |
Drivers |
Learning new techniques on how to use the GPS system and also learn how to use the automatic doors |
23rd May |
Practical lessons |
Driving Manager and the technological expert appointed by the organization |
IT employees |
To learn the new IT technology and how to track trucks using the GPS system and implement other latest technologies in the company |
21st May |
Online and Practical Lessons |
IT manager and IT expert appointed by the management of the organization |
Finance executives |
Getting the thorough knowledge of the proper use of the finance and the formulation and planning of the financial needs of the organization due to the implementation of the change |
29th May |
Training Sessions and Practical lessons |
Finance Manager and the Financial Expert arranged by the management of the organization |
Participants |
skills the training will provide |
Date |
Methods of training |
Responsible person |
IT executives |
WHS, GPS skills |
11st May |
Practical Training with details of WHS and GPS |
IT Expert |
Drivers |
Automated gate skills and GPS skills |
15th May |
Practical skills with on hand training |
Automated Gate Expert |
HR executives |
WHS skills |
16th May |
Theoretical training sessions |
HR Expert |
Answer 3
- Success can be measured by a number of different ways. This includes the likes of the
- 1. Format of Reports- The report will be produced in a tabular format which will help the report to be published in a computerized version.
- Reports will be produced monthly and annually
- 3. The General Manager, GHR manager and Finance Manager will receive a copy of the report. The report will then be circulated to other parties.
Answer 4
Resources planning to implement the change
Areas of changes |
Resources requirements |
Cost |
Truck changes |
Automated doors and GPS Systems |
$20,000 |
Organizational Changes |
Recruitment of able people |
$5000 |
IT Changes |
IT experts training and practical lessons |
$12000 |
Answer 5
The PPT is attached with the word file.
Assessment 3
Answer 1
The following case highlights the failure of the change management strategy and thus a management consultant has been appointed by the management of Fast Track Couriers to ensure the success of the change management plan in the company. The consultant has been approved to manage the communications plan of the organization. The immediate task of the consultant is to get a good idea about the trust levels, role and communication strategy in the change plan and also the diversity management policies followed by the organization. A survey has to be completed by the consultant to implement the success script of the change management plan.
Answer 2
The management consultant can meet with a union representative and discuss the possible resistances from the different areas regarding the change management plan. The most resistance will come from the likes of the employees and drivers who are unsure about their future in the company and are not willing to switch over to the new technology. A proper and effective communication and demonstration of the advantages in a real time situation can work in the favor of the management a convincing them can finally make it possible to implement the change management system.
Answer 3
Impacted People |
Change Strategies |
· Employees |
· Training Sessions |
· Drivers |
· Practical lessons and proper communications |
· Stakeholders |
· Meetings and demonstrations |
Answer 4
The stakeholders need assurance from the part of the management about the success of the plan. The trust of the employees and other people will be achieved through effective communication strategy.
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