07 Change Management

Question 1

What is management of change?

Answer 1

The strategy of senior managers to ensure that the introduction of a new IT system is successful. It includes helping employees to understand and appreciate benefits it will bring.

Question 2

Why does the implementation of new IT systems cause challenges for organisations?

Answer 2

• New systems can have dramatic and far-reaching consequences that are difficult to anticipate.
• The organisation may have to change its structure, make employees redundant, or require employees to retrain or relocate.

Question 3

Describe three consequences of implementing a new IT system that is likely to be a cause of stress to employees.

Answer 3

• Potential job losses as IT system performs tasks that were previously an employee’s responsibility
• Mandatory retraining forces the employee out of their comfort zone
• More IT skills needed which may not suit all staff
• Expansion of role and responsibilities might not involve more pay
• Fewer responsibilities may = less job satisfaction - employees may feel their job has been downgraded
• New operational procedures can be confusing
• New organisational structure and teams could disrupt friendship groups
• New shift patterns and pay rates may disrupt home life
• Closer monitoring and target setting - employees may feel spied on, or under more pressure to meet targets

Question 4

Describe two things that managers could do to reassure employees that they will benefit from the new IT system/

Answer 4

• Provide appropriate training to ensure all staff understand the new system and what they are expected to do.
• Highlight the opportunity to learn new skills and improve job prospects
• Show how the new system will make their role more efficient, or more interesting.

Question 5

Describe two things that managers could do to reduce employees resistance to new IT systems.

Answer 5

• Communicate with staff to stop rumours and give people the opportunity to express their concerns.
• Involve staff in development of the new system. For example, ask for advice on ease-of-use.
• Try to avoid disrupting productive working relationships.

Question 6

“The strategy of senior managers to ensure that the introduction of a new IT system is successful” is the definition of what?

Answer 6

Management of change.

Question 7

What can have dramatic and far-reaching consequences that are difficult to anticipate?

Answer 7

Implementation of new IT systems.

Question 8

Why may an organisation have to change its structure, make employees redundant, or require employees to retrain or relocate?

Answer 8

Due to the implementation of new IT systems.

Question 9

Potential job losses as IT systems performs tasks that were previously an employees responsibility is a consequence of what?

Answer 9

Implementing a new IT system that is likely to cause stress to employees

Question 10

Forcing the employee out of their comfort zone through mandatory retraining is a consequence of what?

Answer 10

Implementing a new IT system that is likely to cause stress to employees

Question 11

More IT skills being needed which may not suit all staff is a consequence of what?

Answer 11

Implementing a new IT system that is likely to cause stress to employees

Question 12

Role and responsibility expansion which may not involve more pay is a consequence of what?

Answer 12

Implementing a new IT system that is likely to cause stress to employees

Question 13

Fewer responsibilities and less job satisfaction is a consequence of what?

Answer 13

Implementing a new IT system that is likely to cause stress to employees

Question 14

New operational procedures possibly being confusing is a consequence of what?

Answer 14

Implementing a new IT system that is likely to cause stress to employees

Question 15

Possible disruption of friendship groups due to new organisational structures and teams is a consequence of what?

Answer 15

Implementing a new IT system that is likely to cause stress to employees

Question 16

Possible disruption of home life due to new shift patterns and pay rates is a consequence of what?

Answer 16

Implementing a new IT system that is likely to cause stress to employees

Question 17

Employees possibly feeling spied on or under more pressure to meet targets due to closer monitoring and target setting is a consequence of what?

Answer 17

Implementing a new IT system that is likely to cause stress to employees

Question 18

Provide appropriate training to ensure all staff understand the new system and what they are expected to do is something that managers can do to what?

Answer 18

Reassure employees that they will benefit from the new IT system.

Question 19

Highlight the opportunity to learn new skills and improve job prospects is something that managers can do to what?

Answer 19

Reassure employees that they will benefit from the new IT system.

Question 20

Showing employees how the new system will make their role more efficient or more interesting is something that managers can do to what?

Answer 20

Reassure employees that they will benefit from the new IT system.

Question 21

Communicate with staff to stop rumours and give people opportunity to express their concerns is something that managers could do to reduce what?

Answer 21

Employees resistance to new IT systems

Question 22

Involve staff in development of the new system, i.e. ask for advice on ease-of-use is something managers could do to reduce what?

Answer 22

Employees resistance to new IT systems

Question 23

Try to avoid disrupting productive working relationships is something managers could do to reduce what?

Answer 23

Employees resistance to new IT systems