Communicating for change: a systems thinking approach

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Durba Banerjee ◽  
Harshal Lowalekar
Keyword(s):  
Change Management ◽  
Systems Thinking ◽  
Theory Of Constraints ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Negative Branch ◽  
Successful Change ◽  
Systems Thinking Approach ◽  
Thinking Tools ◽  
Current Reality

PurposeThis study describes in detail an application of the Theory of Constraints (TOC)-based systems thinking approach towards clear and effective communication in a change management exercise. The same is achieved through the example of a large defence organization that is struggling with a multitude of problems in its stores and purchase departments.Design/methodology/approachIt is demonstrated through the case study how five systems thinking tools – Current Reality Tree (CRT), Evaporating Cloud (EC), Future Reality Tree (FRT), Negative Branch Reservation (NBR) and Prerequisite Tree (PRT) – can be applied in overcoming different layers of resistance and for getting the necessary agreement from the stakeholders for a successful change initiative.FindingsThe five logical thinking tools helped answer the three questions – “what to change”, “what to change to” and “how to cause the change” (Goldratt, 1990) – satisfactorily and overcome various layers of resistance to get the desired buy-in from the stakeholders for a successful change management exercise.Originality/valueThe cause-and-effect based method presented in this work is generic enough and can be adopted for getting a buy-in in a variety of change management contexts.

Drifting the goals archetype: a systemic study

Kybernetes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Virupaxi Bagodi ◽  
Biswajit Mahanty
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Systems Thinking ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Area Of Interest ◽  
Complex Decision Making ◽  
Complex Decision ◽  
Current Reality

PurposeManagerial decision-making is an area of interest to both academia and practitioners. Researchers found that managers often fail to manage complex decision-making tasks and system thinkers assert that generic structures known as systems archetypes help them to a great deal in handling such situations. In this paper, it is demonstrated that decision makers resort to lowering of goal (quick-fix) in order to resolve the gap between the goal and current reality in the “drifting the goals” systems archetype.Design/methodology/approachA real-life case study is taken up to highlight the pitfalls of “drifting the goals” systems archetype for a decision situation in the Indian two-wheeler industry. System dynamics modeling is made use of to obtain the results.FindingsThe decision makers fail to realize the pitfall of lowering the goal to resolve the gap between the goal and current reality. It is seen that, irrespective of current less-than-desirable performance, managers adopting corrective actions other than lowering of goals perform better in the long run. Further, it is demonstrated that extending the boundary and experimentation results in designing a better service system and setting benchmarks.Practical implicationsThe best possible way to avoid the pitfall is to hold the vision and not lower the long term goal. The managers must be aware of the pitfalls beforehand.Originality/valueSystems thinking is important in complex decision-making tasks. Managers need to embrace long-term perspective in decision-making. This paper demonstrates the value of systems thinking in terms of a case study on the “drifting the goals” systems archetype.

Creating leaders for successful change management

2014 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 127-129 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eddie Kilkelly
Keyword(s):  
Change Management ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Expert Knowledge ◽  
Development Program ◽  
Change Initiatives ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Big Picture ◽  
Change Leaders ◽  
Successful Change

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explain why change programs fail in spite of best practice processes and procedures and to examine the improvements that can be made by developing effective change leaders. Design/methodology/approach – The paper is based upon the author's expert knowledge and includes a case study of an organization that is an exemplar for successful change management, having been censured for its lack of success only a few years ago. The paper identifies the actions that helped this organization improve its capability for change. Findings – Change initiatives are more likely to be successful when change leaders are developed and mentored through an organization-wide, structured, aspirational career development program, which encourages change leaders to focus on the big picture, to use their network, to engage with stakeholders and to develop their own emotional intelligence and resilience. Practical implications – The paper explains that organizations need to change their thinking and practices around change management to do more to address the skills, attitudes, capabilities and relationships of the people involved – particularly change leaders. Originality/value – This paper examines the often-overlooked topic of developing, coaching and mentoring change leaders and includes a previously unpublished case study. It provides a blueprint for action for other organizations struggling to deliver successful change programs.

Communicate belonging? Duoethnography of an organisational change study

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivana Crestani ◽  
Jill Fenton Taylor
Keyword(s):  
Change Management ◽  
Sense Of Belonging ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Organisational Change ◽  
Change Initiatives ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Inclusive Language ◽  
Employee Resistance ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposeThis duoethnography explores feelings of belonging that emerged as being relevant to the participants of a doctoral organisational change study. It challenges the prolific change management models that inadvertently encourage anti-belonging.Design/methodology/approachA change management practitioner and her doctoral supervisor share their dialogic reflections and reflexivity on the case study to open new conversations and raise questions about how communicating belonging enhances practice. They draw on Ubuntu philosophy (Tutu, 1999) to enrich Pinar's currere (1975) for understandings of belonging, interconnectedness, humanity and transformation.FindingsThe authors show how dialogic practice in giving employees a voice, communicating honestly, using inclusive language and affirmation contribute to a stronger sense of belonging. Suppressing the need for belonging can deepen a communication shadow and create employee resistance and alienation. Sharing in each other's personal transformation, the authors assist others in better understanding the feelings of belonging in organisational change.Practical implicationsPractitioners will need to challenge change initiatives that ignore belonging. This requires thinking of people as relationships, rather than as numbers or costs, communicating dialogically, taking care with language in communicating changes and facilitating employees to be active participants where they feel supported.Originality/valueFor both practice and academy, this duoethnography highlights a need for greater humanity in change management practices. This requires increasing the awareness and understanding of an interconnectedness that lies at the essence of belonging or Ubuntu (Tutu, 1999).

Cognitive risk culture and advanced roles of actors in risk governance: a case study

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 327-342 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruchi Agarwal ◽  
Sanjay Kallapur
Keyword(s):  
Systems Thinking ◽  
Systems Approach ◽  
Risk Governance ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Insurance Company ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cognitive Risk ◽  
Risk Culture ◽  
The Uk

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to explore the best practices for improving risk culture and defining the role of actors in risk governance.Design/methodology/approachThis paper presents an exemplar case of a British insurance company by using a qualitative case research approach.FindingsThe case study shows how the company was successful in changing from a compliance-based and defensive risk culture to a cognitive risk culture by using a systems thinking approach. Cognitive risk culture ensures that everybody understands risks and their own roles in risk governance. The change was accomplished by adding an operational layer between the first and second lines of defense and developing tools to better communicate risks throughout the organization.Practical implicationsPractitioners can potentially improve risk governance by using the company’s approach. The UK regulator’s initiative to improve risk culture can potentially be followed by other regulators.Originality/valueThis is among the few studies that describe actual examples of how a company can improve risk culture using the systems approach and how systems thinking simultaneously resolves several other issues such as poor risk reporting and lack of clarity in roles and responsibilities.

Gold Valley Chemical Corporation Dubai

2011 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Gwendolyn Rodrigues
Keyword(s):  
Change Management ◽  
Learning Outcomes ◽  
United Arab Emirate ◽  
New Products ◽  
Subject Area ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Chemical Corporation ◽  
Innovation And Change ◽  
Business And Management

Subject area Entrepreneurship, innovation, change management. Study level/applicability Undergraduate and Postgraduate Business and Management. Case overview This case study focuses on the development of a young entrepreneur in an indigenous industry in Dubai, United Arab Emirate. His entrepreneurial zeal resulted in the creation of a culture of innovation. His fascination for change spurred him to develop new products and he won accolades for innovation. Expected learning outcomes This case can be used to teach entrepreneurial development, innovation and change management. Supplementary materials Teaching notes are also available.

scholarly journals Silanes for Building Protection: A Case Study in Systems Thinking Approach to Materials Science Education

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 171
Author(s):  
Rosaria Ciriminna ◽  
Yael Albo ◽  
Alexandra Fidalgo ◽  
Laura Ilharco ◽  
Mario Pagliaro
Keyword(s):  
Systems Thinking ◽  
Doctoral Programs ◽  
Materials Science ◽  
Vapor Condensation ◽  
Microbiological Contamination ◽  
Research Topics ◽  
Water Vapor Condensation ◽  
Organically Modified ◽  
Systems Thinking Approach

Silanes, and organically modified silanes in particular, are commercially used to protect the built environment from deterioration and, in indoor applications, to minimize water vapor condensation and microbiological contamination. Increasing their uptake, we argue in this study, includes the need to adopt a systems-thinking view of this green chemistry technology. After identifying the key advantages of these coatings, we highlight important educational consequences to undergraduate courses and doctoral programs in chemistry and materials science which are common in many research topics, well beyond nanocoating science and technology.

scholarly journals Formulating optimal business process change decisions using a computational hierarchical change management structure framework

2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 207-240 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdulrahman Alrabiah ◽  
Steve Drew
Keyword(s):  
Change Management ◽  
Business Process ◽  
Strategic Decision ◽  
Maximum Efficiency ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Temporal Constraints ◽  
Process Change ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Management Structure

PurposeThis paper first aims to examine how business process change decisions (BPCDs) were implemented in a government organisation bound by tightly coupled temporal constraints (TTCs). Second, it focuses on how to achieve optimal and efficient BPCDs that require tight compliance with regulators’ temporal constraints. Finally, it formulates a rigorous framework that can facilitate the execution of optimal BPCDs with maximum efficiency and minimal effort, time and cost.Design/methodology/approachDecision-making biases by individuals or groups in organisations can impede optimal BPC implementation; to demonstrate this, a case study is investigated and the formulated framework is applied to tackle these failings.FindingsThe case study analysis shows 76 per cent of the BPCDs implemented were inefficient, mostly because of poor decisions, and these resulted in negative ripple effects. In response, the newly developed hierarchical change management structure (HCMS) framework was used to empower organisations to execute high-velocity BPCDs, enabling them to handle any temporal constraints imposed by regulators or other exogenous factors. The HCMS framework was found to be highly effective, scoring an average improvement of more than 100 per cent when measured using decision quality dimensions. This paper would be of value for business executives and strategic decision makers engaging with BPC.Research limitations/implicationsThe HCMS framework has been applied in a single case study as a proof of concept. Future research could extend its application to broader domains that have multi-attribute structures and environments. The evaluation processes of the proposed framework are based on subjective metrics. Causal links from the framework to business process metrics will provide a more complete performance picture.Practical implicationsThe outcome of this research assists in formulating a systematic BPCD framework that is otherwise unavailable. The practical use of the proposed framework would potentially impact on quality outcomes for organisations. The model is derived from decision trees and analytical hierarchical processes and is tailored to address this problematic area. The proposed HCMS framework would help organisations to execute efficient BPCDs with minimal time, effort and cost. The HCMS framework contributes to the academic literature on BPCD that leverages diverse stakeholders to engage in BPC initiatives.Originality/valueThe research presents a novel framework –HCMS – that provides a platform for organisations to easily determine and solve hierarchical decision structure problems, thereby allowing them to efficiently automate and institutionalise optimal BPCDs.

Case study: examining failure in change management

2020 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 319-330 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ernst Graamans ◽  
Kjeld Aij ◽  
Alexander Vonk ◽  
Wouter ten Have
Keyword(s):  
Change Management ◽  
Hospital Setting ◽  
Direct Patient Care ◽  
Psychological Perspective ◽  
Dutch Hospital ◽  
Change Initiatives ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Surgical Suture ◽  
Principles Of Change

PurposeThis case study aims to shed light on what went wrong with the introduction of new surgical suture in a Dutch hospital operating theatre following a tender. Transition to working with new surgical suture was organized in accordance with legal and contractual provisions, and basic principles of change management were applied, but resistance from surgeons led to cancellation of supplies of the new suture.Design/methodology/approachResearchers had access to all documents relevant to the tendering procedure and crucial correspondence between stakeholders. Seventeen in-depth, 1 h interviews were conducted with key informants who were targeted through maximum variation sampling. Patients were not interviewed. The interviews were recorded, transcribed and analysed by discourse analysis. A trial session and workshop were participatively observed. A cultural psychological perspective was adopted to gain an understanding of why certain practices appear to be resistant to change.FindingsFor the cardiothoracic surgeons, suture was more than just stitching material. Suture as a tactile element in their day-to-day work environment is embedded within a social arrangement that ties elements of professional accountability, risk avoidance and direct patient care together in a way that makes sense and feels secure. This arrangement is not to be fumbled with by outsiders.Practical implicationsBy understanding the practical and emotional stakes that medical professionals have in their work, lessons can be learned to prevent failure of future change initiatives.Originality/valueThe cultural psychological perspective adopted in this study has never been applied to understanding failed change in a hospital setting.

The Crown Prince Court’s Training and Career Development section: managing training for its employees

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Alya Ateeq Al Remeithi ◽  
Syed Zamberi Ahmad
Keyword(s):  
Career Development ◽  
Change Management ◽  
Change Process ◽  
Online Courses ◽  
Development Program ◽  
Training And Development ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Employee Resistance ◽  
Crown Prince

Learning outcomes This case study focuses on change management and employee resistance when implementing a new initiative. The case may be helpful to students to clarify their understanding of the following: the importance of employee involvement in the change management process in the government sector. Understand how to help employees to deal with change more effectively, maintaining their commitment and bringing them successfully through the change. Understand the importance of communication during the change process. Successful approaches used when implementing change, such as the Lewin model and Kotter 8. The obstacles to change, including resistance and adverse reactions to change and connecting employees, as well as the causes of resistance when implementing a change. Case overview/synopsis The Crown Prince’s Court is an independent government entity established in 1971, providing support to the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi with the help of almost 300 employees. The Training and Career Development subsection headed by Sumaya Al Saedi decided to initiate an online training and development program for employees. Given that national service, maternity leave and emergency leave had led to working pressure and less training and development for the employees, Sumaya and her team realized that few employees were registering for the course and few of those that did register actually completed their course. Several causes were identified that had led to employees avoiding the online courses. Work pressure and technical issues were among the most salient reasons that kept registered employees from completing the course. The lack of policies at an institutional level to aid changes in training structures reduced the number of employees who felt that they could register for the courses. Therefore, Sumaya and her team had to decide how to attract their employees to online courses and how to support them. Complexity academic level This case study was written for Change Management courses in Bachelor of Business Administration programs. This case examines employee resistance to change when implementing a new system. It can, therefore, be used for undergraduate-level courses. As it concerns employees during the implementation of changes, this case study can be used to help students develop their planning and implementation skills. By focusing on internal departmental challenges, students are introduced to the change process of implementing an initiative and how to deal with employees in the organization. Supplementary materials Teaching Notes are available for educators only. Subject code CSS 6: Human Resource Management.

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