| On one hand we say that change is inevitable while on | | | | process. |
| the other hand all of us resist change. But whether it's | | | | Implementing change |
| personal or professional front, changes will take place. | | | | * People should be encouraged to define their own |
| Only thing which is constant in this world is change. | | | | objectives. |
| Therefore one should not fear change rather one | | | | * Putting right men at right place. Selecting a balanced |
| should put up a mechanism to deal with the change. | | | | team is as important to change management process |
| Most important aspect in a change management | | | | as the process itself. An uninspired team can even |
| process is selling the change. It has to be clearly | | | | scuttle the total change process. So people who have |
| understood by all that change can not be enforced. All | | | | been given the responsibility to bring about the change |
| stakeholders are required to get convinced that | | | | must be selected carefully. |
| change has to take place. And once the fact that | | | | * Define and put in place stages as milestones. |
| change has to take place is understood by all then | | | | Achieving these targets will boost the confidence of |
| affected parties should get a chance to decide about | | | | the team. |
| the course of action. Management of change has not | | | | * To maintain the tempo, keep the pressure on |
| ever been the responsibility of individuals rather it has | | | | working teams so that the sight of ultimate target is |
| been the responsibility of management. Managers are | | | | not forgotten |
| only acting as facilitators. For a small business | | | | * Once the changes have been brought about, spread |
| managing the change is all the more important | | | | awareness and make these changes permanent. |
| because the responsibilities of effecting and managing | | | | How change brings about improvement in the business. |
| change lies with only a small group. For a small | | | | Consider hypothetical case of an organization, who is |
| business ramifications of change are very important | | | | manufacturing insulators. With strong emphasis being |
| because it is question of life and death. A medium and | | | | laid on global warming, the regulatory authorities decide |
| a big organization can survive in case change | | | | one fine day to ban use of any raw material which is |
| management goes astray but a small business will be | | | | not environment friendly. The concern for |
| doomed in case the change management does not | | | | environmental causes and the related global warming |
| work properly. | | | | has been there for pretty long time now. An intelligent |
| Why change is needed | | | | organization would have expected this and would |
| An organization is required to address the issue of | | | | have made their plan ready to move the other areas |
| change on account of many factors. Primarily these | | | | which are based on environment friendly material only. |
| factors can be divided in to two parts, external or | | | | The foresight not only helped the organization in |
| internal. External factors comprises of business | | | | surviving but also helped them as they became |
| environment, political changes etc. whereas in case of | | | | pioneers to use the new technologies and were first |
| changes caused by internal factors the change agents | | | | off the blocks. |
| can be sales development, new product development, | | | | Fixing a business |
| new market development business reorganization, | | | | Change not only brings new opportunities and threats |
| acquisitions and mergers, restructuring and IT related | | | | but at the same time it makes the organization tough. |
| changes. Fast changing business environments require | | | | The organizations, who have suffered test of times, |
| organizations to reorganize, look for alternatives and | | | | are the ones who are inherently strong and can ward |
| keep pace with market dynamics. Organizations, if | | | | off any challenges. The changes make the survival of |
| they have to grow then their change management | | | | only fittest organizations possible. Overall changes |
| juggernaut have to move a step ahead. Otherwise, | | | | definitely help organization to fix their problems get rid |
| organization will not be able to sense opportunities. | | | | of slow runners, reposition the manpower where it is |
| Principles of change management | | | | most needed. |
| * It is well accepted that people resist change. More | | | | Change management process takes you through the |
| hardworking and devoted a person has been, more | | | | course correction stage. Where you can sit back and |
| resistance to change he will be offering. So it becomes | | | | take stock of the situation, re position your guns on |
| imperative for managements to involve and make | | | | new targets. |
| employees understand the necessity for going in for | | | | Why change management is important for small |
| change. There will probably be less resistant from the | | | | businesses |
| employees who are on the fringes. But this should not | | | | Small businesses operate in a small sphere. Their |
| guide organizations from participating in the change | | | | customers are also limited. In such a situation the |
| management process. Open brain storming sessions, | | | | changes taking place in the business environment, if not |
| workshops may be organized and the employees are | | | | foreseen in time can play havoc with the future of the |
| made part of the change management process. | | | | business. The reverberations of changes are felt more |
| * Understanding present status or organization. | | | | strongly in case of small businesses. Further the ability |
| * Future position and status if changes as thought out | | | | of small businesses to absorb the shocks is also |
| would be implemented. | | | | limited. Small businesses do not have proper teams |
| * Planning is the most important part of any change | | | | dedicated to understanding the market and its |
| management process. It can make or mar the total | | | | dynamics. So while reverberations of change are not |
| change management process. Therefore careful | | | | so pronounced in big organizations, their effect can |
| considerations are given to every aspect of planning | | | | definitely be felt in small businesses. |