Unit 4 Class Discussion

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Business Finance

Bethel University

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Word Count is 250 words or more. Everything must be in own words. Must have 2 references or more. Must be done is APA Style. There will be two attachments one is assignment and the other one is the reading.

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In your opinion, what are the top 3 challenges to employees during times of "planned" change? Validate your opinions with scholarly research. Decision Making, Power and Politics Chapter Outline: 8-1 Decision Making in Organizations 8-2 Power in Organizations 8-3 Politics in Organizations W I L L I S , Summary Review Questions Glossary Endnotes K A S S A N D R A Key Terms 2 1 6 1 T S 8-4 Conflict in Organizations bounded rationality Carnegie model coalition incremental decision model intuitive decision making nonprogrammed decisions organizational conflict organizational decision making organizational politics power programmed decisions rational model of decision making satisficing unstructured model of decision making 8 This book has emphasized the importance of strategically managing organizations, whether they are operating in the for-profit sector or the not-for-profit sector. The challenge of competitive forces, discussed in chapter 2 on strategy, is reaching a zenith. This fact particularly impacts the first topic of this chapter, which is decision making. Because competition for resources and customers has reached the hypercompetitive level, decisions by organizations must be made quickly and accurately. 8-1 Decision Making in Organizations W I are required because Why do organizations make decisions? Primarily, decisions organizations represent the merger of people, systems, L and technology. Such a L beg solving or creates complicated conflagration inevitably leads to problems that opportunities that need courses of action. Hence, organizational decision making I is the process of identifying problems or opportunities and S finding solutions or courses of action that further the goals of the organization. , When firms are small, such as those usually found in the existence stage of the organizational life cycle, all important decisions and most K minor decisions are made by one person or a small group of people. However, A as organizations add capacity to produce, employees, and markets, the need S for decision making increases exponentially. Modern organizations are pushing this decision making S responsibility to the lowest possible levels to increase speed and efficiency. This concept, known as empowerment, puts the responsibility A for solving a problem or N acting on an opportunity in the hands of those closest to the situation.1 organizational decision making the process of identifying problems or opportunities and finding solutions or courses of action that further the goals of the organization D As technology continues to permeate our organizations, markets and competition R become global, and productivity increases accelerate, the time available for mulling A over important matters in the decision making process shrinks. Fortunately, most decisions faced by organizations are somewhat routine. Decisions made on a 2 procedures are known routine, repetitive basis addressed by company policy and as programmed decisions. 1 6 Nonprogrammed decisions involve nonroutine, out of the ordinary situations 1 and are generally not covered by existing policy or procedure. An example of a T where an organization nonprogrammed decision would be a competitive situation S about the difficulty is faced with a serious threat from a substitute product. Think faced by steel producers when automobile manufacturers began to utilize plastic on a widespread basis in their new cars. This is an example of a strategic threat from the external environment that resulted in a loss of revenue. That is a serious enough issue. However, this substitution led to the utilization of plastic into other products, replacing glass, steel, and even paper. programmed decisions decisions made on a routine, repetitive basis that are addressed by company policy and procedures nonprogrammed decisions decisions that involve nonroutine, out-of-the ordinary situations and are generally not covered by existing policy or procedure Organizational Theory 8-2 8-1a The Rational Decision Making Model Regardless of whether decisions are programmed or nonprogrammed, everyone has a process that they follow when confronted with the need for a decision. As organization theory has evolved over the years, a clear need has been recognized by researchers and practitioners alike for a model for decision makers to adopt. Too many organizational managers were making decisions based only on past experience, or expediency, or whatever might make them look good to their superiors. Allowing organizational decision-makers to “fly by the seat W of their pants” works against the goals and objectives set by most firms. To overcome this problem, a I rational or classical model of decision making has been developed. The rational L model is a decision making process that relies on a step-by-step systematic L as anywhere from approach to solving a problem. This model has been portrayed a three-step2 to a six-step3 to an eight-step4 process. FigureI 8.1 depicts a version of the rational model based on a strategic management S , rational model of decision-making a decision making process that relies on a step-bystep systematic approach to solving a problem K A S Figure 8.1 The Rational Decision Making Model S A Each step in Figure 8.1 will be explained using a practical example from the Coca Nthe early 1980’s Coke Cola Company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. During D newly-introduced began losing market share in supermarkets to Pepsi. Although Diet Coke had recently become the No. 1 diet soft drink, RCoke executives were concerned with their competitive position in relation to Pepsi’s. To make matters A worse, Pepsi had been running taste test advertisements on television for several years where blindfolded consumers picked Pepsi over Coke based on taste. 2 1 project to tinker with Robert Goizeuta, chairman of Coca Cola, initiated a secret Coke’s formula, developed in 1886 by Georgia pharmacist John Pemberton, 6 believing that the sweeter taste of Pepsi was leading to1Coke’s loss of market share. By 1984 the company was ready to try the new formula in consumer trials in T over 30 cities in America. With the aid of a market research firm, Coke conducted its own taste tests, with close to 40,000 people choosingS New Coke over the old classic by 55 to 45 %. The also chose it over Pepsi. The introduction of New Coke, and the withdrawal of Old Coke, came in April of 1985. To Coke’s surprise, the outcry over the new formula and the pulling of the old Coke was met with outrage. Less than 90 days later, the old formula was reOrganizational Theory 8-3 introduced to the market as Coca-Cola Classic. Coke’s stock price went up over $5 in one week after bringing back the old formula.5 This example is not an illustration of a successful initial decision, as Coke’s decision to introduce New Coke could only be described as a failure. However, it very clearly demonstrates how difficult important strategic decisions can be, and it reveals one firm’s ability to recognize when it had made a mistake. Step 1: Recognize and confront the situation – do not sit on a situation that is a potential problem or opportunity for your organization hoping that it will take care of itself. Coca-Cola executives became concerned with a drop in market share in the early 1980’s as Pepsi began outselling Coke in supermarkets. The company decided the problem was the taste of their product, in that Pepsi was sweeter than Coke. W Step 2: Develop the solution options – strategic managers base decision-making options I on their compatibility with the organization’s strategy to accomplish its goals and objectives. L Anything else is counterproductive. Coca-Cola owned the most recognizable brand in the world. To protect its market share andLits name, Coke looked at introducing new products (like I Diet Coke), changing advertising strategies (conducting its own taste tests), or actually altering the formula of its main product (introducing New Coke). S , Step 3: Evaluate the possible outcomes of each option – Sometimes a possible solution to a situation sounds very good until it is evaluated based on the possible outcomes. As they K knew they already had six brands on the shelves of evaluated each option, Coke executives stores, they believed their marketingAcampaign was already one of the best in the world, and they were concerned that tinkering with S their tried and true formula was risky. S Step 4: Choose the best option and implement – Once the best option is identified based on an evaluation of possible outcomes,A implement the option. After analyzing this situation for N some time, CEO Robert Goizueta, with support from Robert Woodruff, the 95 year-old former chairman of Coca-Cola, put the wheels D in motion for the introduction of New Coke. R The example of decision making at Coca-Cola by its top management team demonstrates that even a rational, A objective, research-based decision can be wrong. In the end, after spending over $4 million to taste test its new formula, Coca-Cola failed in its introduction of New Coke. Some say an intangible, e.g., the consumer’s 2 failure.6 Yet, Coca-Cola survived and prospered under emotional tie to the brand, was to blame for New Coke’s Goizueta’s leadership as its stock price increased 3800% 1 during his tenure. Since his death in October of 1997, 7 however, Coca-Cola has struggled to find the right leader 6 at the right time. 1 Critics are quick to point out that the rational model has several flaws. For example, managers do not have T do not know all possible alternatives, and they do not complete, perfect information most of the time. They understand nor can they predict all possible outcomesSof those alternatives. Decision makers also have limited mental capability, something that is not recognized by this model. The rational model is a prescriptive model in that it lays out a process for how decisions should be made. A second model will be discussed below that is more descriptive, demonstrating how decisions actually are made in organizations. Organizational Theory 8-4 8-1b The Carnegie Model A second model of decision making is the administrative model, or the Carnegie Model. Developed by organizational researchers James March and Herbert Simon from Carnegie-Mellon University, this model tries to explain how organizational decision makers actually make decisions. The result is a realistic snapshot of the limitations decision makers bring to the process, particularly in light of the tremendous number of variables involved in decision making in today’s organizations. The Carnegie model reflects a descriptive decision-makingW process in organizations where coalitions determine a final choice based on incomplete information, social I and psychological processes, limited abilities of decision makers, and the need L to find quick, satisficing solutions.8 The Carnegie Model is a good example of what happens to a behavioral theory in management whenLit is actually studied in practice. Rarely does one single top manager make all ofI the important decisions in an organization without input and buy-in from many S other key managers. Although an organization may have clearly defined goals, , conflict as to how to obtain those goals or whether they are actually the proper goals often develops. In these situations, coalitions can form within the organization between employees, K managers, and/or shareholders to push forward a solution.9 In contrast, the rational A in organizations and model of decision making tends to assume no conflict exists S that organizational goals are all commonly shared by immediate stakeholders. Carnegie model reflects a descriptive decision-making process in organizations where coalitions determine a final choice based on incomplete information, social and psychological processes, limited abilities of decision makers, and the need to find quick, satisficing solutions S Mintzberg categorizes the possible reasons for coalitions in an organization and A identifies the actual groups, both external and internal, that might result. He defines N a coalition as “a group of people who band together to win some issue.”10 Below D is a list of these possible coalitions. External Coalitions: R A coalition a group of people who band together to win some issue Owners – those who have legal control of the organization 2 Associates 1 – Suppliers and buyers of organizational resources 6 and products/services Employee Associations – Unions and professional associations 1 T S Publics – this term refers to general groups such as families and opinion leaders, special interests groups, and government Directors – board members Organizational Theory 8-5 Internal Coalitions: Top Management Team – also referred to by some as the dominant coalition Operators – describes the workers who actually produce the firm’s product or service Line Managers – all managers from the CEO down to first-line supervisors; Analysts of the Technostructure – systems planning and control personnel; W I Support Staff L relations, etc. – specialists who work on matters of law, public L Ideology Supporters I the – those who share a set of beliefs that distinguish S organization from others.11 , This list emphasizes the fact that coalitions are powerful, yet fundamental forces to be reckoned with in any organization. The vast number of special interests, causes, K needs, and other considerations that can be conjured up by this list confirms the A practical approach to decision making that coalition building represents. This is S but it does make one not to say that coalitions are only concerned with self-interest, aware of the importance of coalition building in managingSan organization. A A second major difference between the rational model and the Carnegie model has N to do with choosing the optimal solution in the decision-making process. March and Simon have described that, in many cases, solutionsD to problems are arrived R at through a process of satisficing. The concept of satisficing is choosing a course A of people involved or of action that is the most acceptable to the greatest number affected. In a perfect world, this would not be the case. Decision makers would always choose whatever solution was best for the organization. Remember, 2 organizations are groups of people who must work together to accomplish 1 anything. Unfortunately, optimal solutions are not always going to be supported 6 by organizational stakeholders. 1 Another factor involved in decision making that the rational T model overlooks is the sheer limitations of human decision makers based on their S bounded rationality. Although organizational decision makers are usually well-versed in their industry, trained in their jobs, and networked to opportunities and threats in the external environment, they are also limited by their own cognitive ability. So, bounded rationality refers to the limitations of the mind that restrict the ability of decision makers to solve problems or take advantage of opportunities. Operating within this limited framework, decision makers can make a quick list of alternatives based on satisficing choosing a course of action that is the most acceptable to the greatest number of people involved or affected bounded rationality refers to the limitations of the mind that restrict the ability of decision makers to solve problems or take advantage of opportunities Organizational Theory 8-6 past experience and personal knowledge of the situation at hand, prioritize them based on importance, and move on with a solution. Are all relevant alternatives likely to be included? The answer is probably not. However, the need not to spend too long deliberating a situation, the tendency to satisfice, and the personal preferences of the primary decision maker usually overrule any inclination to try to be exhaustive in identifying alternatives. W I L L I S , Input and buy-in from key managers aid and strengthen the decision making process. K A 8-1c Incremental Decision Making S A different model of decision making is the incremental decision model. The name S incremental is quite descriptive, as managers make decisions A that are only slightly different than the ones made by their predecessors or the ones they themselves N made in the past.12 The idea behind the incremental model is that managers are D only “muddling through” as they are confronted with important decision-making R style because the opportunities. Many managers practice this decision making A change what has been chance for failure is reduced when you only incrementally incremental decision model managers make decisions that are only slightly different than the ones made by their predecessors or the ones they themselves made in the past happening for a long time. Although new courses of action may eventually develop when the incremental model is practiced, they take a long2time to come about due to the small step-by-small step process. 1 6 8-1d The Unstructured Model 1 While the Carnegie model emphasizes the need toTrecognize social and psychological processes, the unstructured model, based on the observance of actual S decision makers in operating organizations, focuses more on the actual steps taken by decision makers. The unstructured model of decision making, developed by Henry Mintzberg, sometimes referred to as the Father of Strategic Management, describes decision making in uncertain environments as a sequence of activities that require smaller decisions throughout the process. 13 unstructured model of decision making describes decision making in uncertain environments as a structured sequence of activities that require smaller decisions throughout the process Organizational Theory 8-7 Mintzberg and his colleagues studied twenty-five organizational decisions as a process from beginning to end. They outlined three major phases common to the firms studied: the identification phase, the development phase, and the selection phase. The identification stage involved recognizing the problem or opportunity and gathering more information, or diagnosing. The development phase was focused on searching for alternatives or designing a solution that was customized to fit the situation. In the selection phase a judgment is made, followed by analysis, bargaining, and eventual authorization. In their research, Mintzberg and his coauthors noted that sometimes major barriers would be bumped into, requiring decision makers to go back and repeat steps they had already taken. W What is important to remember in any decision model is the I fact that most critical decisions are made over a period of time. And, as we have emphasized in this book, L the environment for most businesses changes over time, sometimes drastically. L Mintzberg’s model is realistic in that regard, particularly when an organization is I since it accounts for operating in an uncertain internal or external environment, S barriers that can arise. 8-1e Intuition in Decision Making , K literature looks at the A somewhat recent school of thought in the decision making A decision making, importance of intuition. Using intuition, or practicing intuitive involves relying on judgment and feel for a situation based S on past experience.14 Intuition is invaluable because it represents an informed gut S reaction to a problem or opportunity, it allows decisions to be made faster as the reaction intuitively A is fairly immediate, and it relies on information that has been burned into the N subconscious over a long period of time.15 intutive decision making involves relying on judgment and feelings for a situation based on experience D Intuition plays an important role in the decision making R of Meg Whitman, president and CEO of eBay who is featured in our Best A Practices box in this chapter. Whitman must make decisions on critical business issues like expansion, acquisitions, personnel and so forth. However, she has other decisions to make that 2 involve social and cultural issues that can become quite complicated. For example, 1 sell Jeffrey Dahmer’s eBay will let you sell Lizzie Borden’s ax, but you can’t 16 refrigerator. Whitman finds that she must monitor chat 6 rooms and customer e-mails almost daily to stay in touch with where her online 1 market is going. Some items she has banned from sale on eBay include firearms, T tobacco, alcohol, and Nazi items. Some of these decisions have been controversial since free market S advocates can make an argument for selling anything legal as long as there is a market willing to purchase the product. Whitman has had to rely on her own intuition and gut feeling to try to do what is socially responsible without severely damaging her firm’s ability to prosper. Organizational Theory 8-8 Best Practices Meg Whitman, eBay According to Fortune magazine, the most powerful woman in business for the year 2004 was Meg Whitman, president and CEO of eBay. Carly Fiorina of Hewlett-Packard had been named number one for six years in a row prior to 2004. Why did Meg Whitman move up from second in 2003 to first? Part of the reason was that eBay was arguably the hottest company in the world in 2004. But perhaps even more important was the fact that Meg Whitman was the most respected woman manager in the world. And, one reason for that awesome reputation is her ability to manage a fastgrowing business garnering world wide attention without going on a power trip. Whitman amassed a tremendous base of power by trying not to act powerfully. She has grown eBay W from $5.7 million in revenue to just over $3 billion in about seven years. This makes eBay the fastest I Microsoft, Cisco, Oracle, or even Wal-Mart for growing company in history, faster than FedEx, L no responsibility for the unprecedented success of its first eight years of existence. Whitman takes eBay, choosing instead to constantly heap praise L on her employees and loyal customers. Yet fellow executives at eBay are quick to remark that no I one could have kept everything on course at the company except Meg. S at ,eBay The key to Whitman’s tremendous tenure is rooted in her approach to power. She was quoted as saying: “Ask anyone about me, and they would never think of power.” Instead, Whitman would point to her unconventional power, a more K subtle kind of power that continues to garner her a legion of admirers. Her credibility is key. Whitman does what she says she will do. She is also a A counterintuitive strategist, a rare ability in today’s uncertain environment. In a very unpowerful way, Whitman practices the art of enabling others toSgo out and accomplish great things for eBay. Yet, in S the most powerful woman in business. the end, this art of enabling has made Meg Whitman A N D 8-2 Power in Organizations R Power is an elusive concept to grasp and formulate A a formal definition for because it tends to be associated with authority, control, influence and other similar kinds of things. Yet, power is also one of those organizational characteristics that most people know when they see it. For example, Salancik 2 and Pfeffer,17 researching strategic-contingency theory, asked ten managers in an insurance company 1 to rank twenty-one people in the organization based on their influence. Only one person hesitated, 6 he was told ‘power’ he immediately joined the asking “What do you mean by influence?” When 1 similar lists. other nine in compiling what turned out to be very T Mintzberg wrote about power being ‘in and around organizations’ due to the growing body of S literature on power between firms, as well as, within firms.18 This discussion of power will focus on power as it relates to the internal workings of an organization. Power is one’s ability to achieve desired outcomes by exerting influence over others. Sometimes this influence is exerted in the form of orders or instructions to be carried out,19 while other times it is subtly understood. A.G. Lafley of Proctor & Gamble was recently quoted as saying, “The measure of a powerful person is that their circle of influence is greater than their circle of control.”20 Organizational Theory 8-9 Career Point Position Power When young, up-and-coming executives are given their first official titled jobs, at least some position (or legitimate) power comes into play. Being named to a particular spot on the organization chart automatically puts a person higher on the pecking order than some others. May who fall into that “others” category are more experienced in the industry and know more about the company than the newly-titled up-and-comer. As you prepare for your first titled position in an organization, thank about how you will manage your new-found position power. Meg Whitman, CEO and president of eBay (See Best Practices), agrees with this statement made by Rajiv Dutta, eBay’s CFO: “To have power, you must be willing not to W have any of it.” This is difficult for new executives to grasp since obtaining and exercising power is something they think they’re working for in theI first place. L Exercising position power requires a deft hand for a young executive. You should not abdicate your L power just because there are others in your workgroup who know much more about the business than I you know. Conversely, you don’t ignore the valuable contributions these coworkers can make. Just S like the green second lieutenant who comes to rely on his seasoned first sergeant, learn how to manage the knowledgeable folks you work with while , continuing, where appropriate, to interject your own fresh thoughts that are not colored by years of doing the same old thing in the same old way. K Top management teams are looking for new managers who understand the core competencies of the firm, yet bring fresh new ideas to the table. TheyAare not looking for new managers who want to be respected so badly that they impose their ideas onSothers, even when they are bad for the organization. Remember, in any organization, managers areS respected for doing what they say they will and for advancing the goals and objectives of the firm, or, in other words, being credible and having integrity. 8-2a Individual Sources of Power A N D R A Power originates from several sources. These sources are covered in most organizational behavior courses at the collegiate level, but they are worth mentioning again here. Some of these power 2 sources are based on a person’s position in an organization, and some are based on person’s individual 1 characteristics or personality. Most of these power sources, legitimate, coercive, reward, expert, 6 referent, and charismatic, were identified and described by French and Raven.21 1 The first source of formal power is legitimate power. Legitimate power is obtained by virtue of the T position one holds in an organization. It is sometimes referred to as position power. Having a title or S a certain amount of power based solely on the being designated a manager usually allows a person position. A second type of formal power is known as coercive power. Coercion means you have the ability to force someone to act in a certain way based on a fear of negative consequences if that action isn’t taken. For example, one may be demoted or even fired for not following orders or doing as one was told. See the Career Points section for a practical perspective on position power. A somewhat more pleasant type of formal power is reward power, just the opposite of coercive Organizational Theory 8-10 power. Managers who have the ability to reward performance will usually get the results they need based on subordinates desire to achieve the rewards. These rewards can be either financial, such as salary increases or bonuses, or they can be nonfinancial, including options such as better working conditions, a nicer office, more time off, plum assignments, or promotions. Individual sources of power include the notion of being an expert. Expert power refers to one’s knowledge or skill that is greater than that of others in the workgroup. This expertise about something specific to the needs of the organization brings a degree of respect and dependence from coworkers. For example, a technician from the IT department at your company would be better suited to help you with a pc problem than your coworker in the marketing department. Eventually, if the pc’s at your firm break down or lock up regularly, the computer technician may become one of the most powerful people W in the organization. An example of this involved maintenance engineers at French tobacco-processing plants studied by researcher Michael Crozier. Crozier I discovered that these maintenance engineers, although low on the organizational chart, were actually some L of the most powerful people in the corporation due to the machinery frequently breaking down. Without the L These engineers exploited this situation by refusing to machinery operating properly, there was no production. I all repair work be done by the engineering maintenance show operators how to make minor repairs, insisting that 22 department. S , power. Referent power is based on someone having The last personal source of power is known as referent admirable personality traits, so much so that others allow that person to exercise power over them because they want to please him. Referent power is a very strong kind K of influence. We see its personification in advertising where sports heroes or music personalities are contracted to sell and promote products because companies A understand that many people look up to these celebrities S and want to be like them. Politicians will even solicit the assistance of rock and roll stars to campaign on their behalf, persuading fans to vote for the endorsed S candidate. A Referent power can be taken to another level if someone N possesses charisma. Charismatic power is a person’s gift of being able to influence others by transforming their attitudes and beliefs, even in the face of contradicting D information. A charismatic person may become a leader without a formal leadership position. This sometimes R happens when a person does something heroic, like the FedEx employee that could not open a drop box. Instead of just moving on to the next one, he physically liftedAthe box and put it in his truck to be opened at the hub so that none of the documents or packages would be late. 2 1 We began the discussion on power with a reference 6 to Pfeffer and Salancik’s work on strategic contingency theory. The concept of environmental uncertainty is relevant to the idea of strategic contingencies for, over a 1 period of time, what is strategically critical to the organization my change. The department or division that T controls the critical resources or performs whatever task is most relevant will receive the most power. Pfeffer S can exert tremendous influence. 23 and Salancik identified five situations where a department 8-2b Departmental Sources of Power Organizational Theory 8-11 Dependency refers to a department needing or an output from another department in order to successfully do its work. An example might be that the flight scheduling department cannot complete its schedule without a status report on each pilot from personnel. This makes flight scheduling dependent on personnel. Financial Resources are more prized everyday in organizations, and the departments that generate them are usually very powerful. Many times this role is played by the sales department. When times are good and above-average returns are generated, other departments may make extra demands for more funds. In a university, the college, school, or department where enrollment is growing very fast will demand more resources to keep up with demand but also becauseW it has amassed a certain amount of power based on its growth I Nonsubstitutability is a source of power when the roleLplayed by a particular department cannot be performed by any other. Due to theLknowledge of people in the department, their expertise due to education or training, I substitutes are rare or nonexistent. S Coping with Uncertainty is a strong base of power in today’s hypercompetitive , environment. Emery and Trist described a situation they labeled turbulent fields where competition was so fierce that the organization believed the ground was K actually moving under them.24 A department can diffuse that uncertainty with A accurate predictions, or obtaining prior information. For example a new product could be developed that was designed take advantage of S environmental changes. S Or power can be garnered through prevention, somehow stopping the organization from committing an error. The third uncertainty copingAmethod is absorption, moving in after a bad situation has developed and diffusing N the overall effect on the organization. 8-3 Politics in Organizations D R A This chapter has discussed decision making and power because they are closely 2 related in any organization. Those with power have influence, and those with 1 a third force that must influence tend to be involved in decision making. There is 6 to be fully understood, be added to these first two if power and decision making are and that force is politics. 1 T politics is literally a To some people who work in organizations on a daily basis, dirty word. They view politically astute managers or staffSmembers as scheming, conniving, and self-serving. Yet, while some people do abuse the political process in organizations, politics is essential to progress. This is especially true for larger organizations. Jeffrey Pfeffer has provided a good working definition of politics in organizations. According to Pfeffer, organizational politics are, “activities taken within organizational politics activities taken within organizations to acquire, develop, and use power and other resources to obtain one’s preferred outcomes in a situation in which there is uncertainty or disagreement about choices Organizational Theory 8-12 organizations to acquire, develop, and use power and other resources to obtain one’s preferred outcomes in a situation in which there is uncertainty or disagreement about choices.”25 This definition reveals several interesting points about politics in today’s modern organizations. First, politics are directly related to power. Pfeffer says political activities are specifically undertaken to acquire, develop, and use power. Second, politics is about obtaining preferred outcomes, which requires overcoming obstacles and differences of opinion Wamong organizational members as to the best course of action. Third, political activities are particularly conspicuous in I situations where there is uncertainty. Earlier we discussed enL vironmental uncertainty’s effect on decision making and how L tend to wield much power. This definition of politics organizational departments that can predict future events I in organizations further explains that many times uncertainty and disagreement of choices lead to a situation where coalition building is usually required for a solution S to be determined or a decision to be made. , thing. Yes, some political activity is self-serving and So, politics in organizations is not always a negative perhaps even subversive. Remember, organizations are composed of people, so society’s problems and ills will probably be mirrored in our organizations. However, K most organizational goals would never be met if it weren’t for the political astuteness of key organizational A leaders and power brokers. Some disputes are so great and some environments are so uncertain, without political S behavior very little would be accomplished. Imagine a decision process, for example, where an organization is trying to decide which foreign country in which S to pursue expansion. There are so many countries with so many diverse populations and standards of living, Acoalition would have to be developed to push for one the choices are overwhelming. Some type of political N particular country over another to get the process moving. D Politics is a difficult behavior to define because, like power, it is one of those things that we know it when we R see it. And, it is directly related to power, since it is the use of power to get something done. Most people dislike A such activity, but we need political activity whenever negative, self-serving politics and the people who practice our organizations are faced with uncertainty and disagreement. 2 1 8-4 Conflict in Organizations 6 Organizational conflict occurs when two groups clash1over competing goals. To understand why disagreement T sources of conflict. Borrowing from the work of Louis surfaces in organizations we need to take a look at the Pondy, the sources of conflict in organizations include S interdependence, differences in goals and priorities, bureaucratic factors, incompatible performance criteria, and competition for resources.26 Interdependence is a term that describes how some subunits of the organization seek autonomy and pursue its own agenda of goals and objectives. This phenomenon occurs most often when the organization has diversified over a period of time. The need for interdependence identified by upper management to accomplish organizational goals can come into conflict with the desire for autonomy by subunits. Organizational Theory 8-13 Differences in goals and priorities develop among subunits because each is engaged in a different pursuit, some with close ties to the external environment and some shielded by the internal core of the organization. A customer service center in direct contact with end users on a daily basis might have different priorities than an internal engineering department that is charged with lowering production and process costs. An example at the university level would be professors desiring reduced class sizes and teaching loads to facilitate the pursuit of academic W research while the upper-level administrators sought larger I class sizes and heavier teaching loads to reduce costs. L Bureaucratic factors can become a source of conflict in very large organizations due to the status afforded L such as General Electric, known as a proven training different groups according to their importance. In a firm I would have a difficult time of rising to the position of ground for top managers, a human resources vice president CEO or president. Staff jobs in human resources are considered important, but staff functions are not considered S as relevant for training top managers as line positions,, such as division head or director of operations. Incompatible performance criteria are a source of conflict between subunits because they may be evaluated in different ways, leading to incongruent performance K outcomes. Subunits that are dependent on each other indirectly may develop become at odds. For example,Aif engineering is working to lower production costs but sales is hearing from customers that they want products S with more features, conflict is likely to occur. In order to increase sales and keep customers from seeking other vendors, sales may need research and development S to design new features to enhance its products. Engineering will then find itself working to redesign the A manufacturing process to include the new features, probably adding costs in the long run. Performance in the N sales department goes up, while cost containment programs by engineering are lost. D Competition for scarce resources is a ready source of conflict in most every organization operating in our R modern global environment. Depending on how an organization is structured this conflict can have several A sources. If the structure is functional, as described in chapter 5, marketing will compete with finance or research and development for scarce resources. If the structure is divisional, large operating divisions will 2 Resources are critical because organizations cannot find themselves lobbying the home office for resources. grow without investment, and, unfortunately there are1never enough resources to meet everyone’s expectations. When General Motors decided to from the Saturn automobile division in the mid-1980s, they knew significant 6 financial resources would be necessary to design and build a new, world-class car. The eventual price tag was 1 approximately $5 billion. Other divisions at General Motors suffered during this period, particularly Chevrolet. T Chevrolet went from selling one-fifth of all cars in America in 1970 to 12.1% in 1992. Much of this lost market share was attributed to lack of new designs for its carsSand continued erosion to Japanese car makers.27 Not all conflict is bad for organizations. Most organizational researchers would agree that some conflict is quite constructive, as differences of opinion are gotten out in the open and each side in a dispute is made aware of the other’s position. In chapter 11 we will examine how organizational learning, a critical component of competitiveness in the future, is facilitated by conflict. Organizational Theory 8-14 Summary Organizational decision making is the process of identifying problems or opportunities and finding solutions or courses of action that further the goals of the organization. Decisions made on a routine, repetitive basis addressed by company policy and procedures are known as programmed decisions. Nonprogrammed decisions involve nonroutine, out of the ordinary situations and are generally not covered by existing policy or procedure. The rational model is a decision making process that relies on a step-by-step systematic approach to solving a problem. The Carnegie model reflects a descriptive decision-making process in organizations where coalitions determine a final choice based W on incomplete information, social and psychological processes, limited abilities of decision makers, I and the need to find quick, satisficing solutions. The concept of satisficing is choosing a course ofLaction that is the most acceptable to the greatest number of people involved or affected. Another factor involved in decision making that the rational model L overlooks is the sheer limitations of human decision makers based on their bounded rationality. I the mind that restrict the ability of decision-makers to Bounded rationality refers to the limitations of S solve problems or take advantage of opportunities. , A different model of decision making is the incremental decision model. The idea behind the incremental model is that managers are only “muddling through” as they are confronted with important decisionK making opportunities, improving on former decisions incrementally. The unstructured model A of decision making describes decision making in uncertain environments as a structured sequence of S the process. Using intuition, or practicing intuitive activities that require smaller decisions throughout decision making, involves relying on judgment S and feel for a situation based on past experience. A Power is one’s ability to achieve desired outcomes by exerting influence over others. Power is derived N from a legitimate position, the ability to be coercive, the ability to reward, being an expert, appealing to D charismatic personality. The department or division others’ desire for referent affiliation, and/or a strong that controls the critical resources or performs R whatever task is most relevant will receive the most power. A Organizational politics comprise activities taken within organizations to acquire, develop, and use power and other resources to obtain preferred outcomes in a situation in which there is uncertainty or disagreement 2 about choices. Organizational conflict occurs when two groups clash over competing goals. 1 6 Review Questions and Exercises1 T 1. Rational decision making appears to be the Soptimal process for solving problems. Discuss. 2. Compare and contrast the rational model with the Carnegie model. In your opinion, which is better? 3. Explain the term satisficing. 4. Someone referred to power as a golden rule. What is meant by the statement, “He who has the gold, makes the rules.” Organizational Theory 8-15 5. Why is intuition important in decision making? 6. Is organizational politics good or bad? Defend your answer. Glossary • Bounded rationality refers to the limitations of the mind that restrict the ability of decision makers to solve problems or take advantage of opportunities. • W Carnegie Model reflects a descriptive decision-making process in organizations where coalitions I determine a final choice based on incomplete information, social and psychological processes, limited abilities of decision makers, and the L need to find quick, satisficing solutions. • Coalition a group of people who band together to win some issue. • • • • • • L I Incremental decision model managersSmake decisions that are only slightly different than the ones made by their predecessors or the ones they themselves made in the past. , Intuitive decision making experience. involves relying on judgment and feel for a situation based on K A involve nonroutine, out of the ordinary situations and Nonprogrammed decisions decisions that S or procedure. are generally not covered by existing policy S Organizational conflict occurs when two groups clash over competing goals. A Organizational decision making the process N of identifying problems or opportunities and finding solutions or courses of action that further the goals of the organization. D Organizational politics activities takenRwithin organizations to acquire, develop, and use power and other resources to obtain one’s preferred A outcomes in a situation in which there is uncertainty or disagreement about choices. • 2 Power one’s ability to achieve desired outcomes by exerting influence over others. • Programmed decisions decisions made on a routine, repetitive basis that are addressed by 6 company policy and procedures. • Rational model of decision making T a decision making process that relies on a step-by-step systematic approach to solving a problem. 1 1 S • Satisficing choosing a course of action that is the most acceptable to the greatest number of people involved or affected • Unstructured model of decision making describes decision making in uncertain environments as a structured sequence of activities that require smaller decisions throughout the process. Organizational Theory 8-16 (Endnotes) 1. J. Conger, & R. Kanungo, 1988. The empowerment process: Integrating theory and practice, Academy of Management Review, 13, 471-481. 2. G. Jones, 2004. Organization Theory. 3. S. Robbins 2003. Organizational Behavior, 10th edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson, pg. 132. 4. R. Daft, 2004. Organization Theory and Design, 8th edition. Mason, OH: South-Western, pg. 449. 5. J. Fierman, 1985. How Coke decided a new taste was it, Fortune, May 27, pg. 80; A. Fisher, 1985. Coke’s brand-loyalty lesson. Fortune, August 5, pg. 44-46. 6. Fisher, 1985. 7. W B. Morris, 2004. The real story, Fortune, 149(11), pg. 84-98. 8. I NY: Wiley; H. Simon, 1960. The New Science of Management J. March, & H. Simon, 1958. Organizations, New York, Decision, New York, NY: Harper and Row. L 9. W. Stevenson, J. Pearce, & L. Porter, 1985. The concept of ‘coalition’ in organization theory and research, Academy of L Management Review, 10(2), 256-268; R. Cyert & J. March, 1963. A Behavioral Theory of the Firm, Englewood-Cliffs, NJ: I Prentice-Hall. 10. H. Mintzberg, 1983. Power In and Around Organizations,SEnglewood-Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, pg. 27. 11. H. Mintzberg, 1983. , 12. C. Lindbloom, 1959. The science of muddling through, Public Administration Review, 19, 79-88. 13. H. Mintzberg, D. Raisinghani, & A. Theoret, 1976. TheKstructure of unstructured decision making, Administrative Science Quarterly, 21, 246-275. A S L. Burke, & M. Miller, 1999. Taking the mystery out of intuitive decision making, Academy of Management Executive, S Harvard Business Review, February, 59-65. November, 91-99; A. Hayashi, 2001. When to trust your gut, P. Sellers, 2004. eBay’s secret, Fortune, 150(8), 161-178.A G. Salancik, & J. Pfeffer, 1977. Who gets power—andNhow they hold on to it: A strategic-contingency model of power, Organizational Dynamics, Winter, 3-21. D H. Mintzberg, 1983. R R. Dahl, 1957. The concept of power, Behavioral Science, 2, 201-215. A 14. O. Behling, & N. Eckel, 1991. Making sense out of intuition, Academy of Management Executive, February, 46-54. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. P. Sellers, 2004, pg. 162. 21. J. French, & B. Raven, 1959. The bases of social power, in D. Cartwright (ed.), Studies in Social Power: Origins and Recent 2 for Social Research, pg. 150-167. Developments, Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan, Institute 1 6 G. Salancik & J. Pfeffer, 1977. F. Emery, & E. Trist, 1965. The causal texture of organizational 1 environments, Human Relations, 18, 21-32. J. Pfeffer, 1981. Power in Organizations, Boston, MA: Pitman, T pg. 7. L. Pondy, 1967. Organizational conflict: Concepts and models, S Administrative Science Quarterly, 2, 296-320. 22. P. Sellers, 2004, pg. 161. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. K. Kerwin, 1992. Meanwhile, Chevy is sulking in the garage, Business Week, August 17, 90-91. Organizational Theory 8-17 Innovation and Organizational Change 9 Chapter Outline: 9-1 What is Innovation? W I L L I S , 9-2 Types of Innovation 9-3 Sources for Innovative Opportunity 9-4 The Innovation Process - A Life Cycle Approach 9-5 Promoting Innovation 9-6 Reasons for Not Innovating 9-7 Organizational Change Summary K A S S A N D R A 2 1 6 1 T S Review Questions Glossary Endnotes Key Terms action research innovative process planned change reengineering cooptation intrapreneurship process-oriented innovation revolutionary change evolutionary change invention product-oriented innovation reward system incremental innovation learning organization radical innovation systematic innovation innovation organizational change reactive change venture teams Entrepreneurial activity, both within existing organizations and in the creation of new ones, has become vital in today’s competitive environments of for- and notfor-profits. Entrepreneurs create new markets, new customers, and new consumer demand. The instrument used to implement entrepreneurship is innovation.1 9-1 What is Innovation? Joseph Schumpeter, the German economist, heralded the work of the entrepreneur. He describes the entrepreneur’s ability to transform an innovation into a viable business as “creative destruction,” a process whereby current Wmethods of production 2 are rendered obsolete. Consider the example of the personal I computer, a product that has rendered the typewriter unnecessary. And, how soon will pay telephones L become obsolete due to the proliferation of cellular phones? However, just as important as the ability of the entrepreneur to enact creative destruction is the L instrument of innovation. I S ideas and concepts Innovation can be defined as the transformation of creative 3 into products or services that meet the needs of customers. The process of , innovation represents a managed-change effort by an organization that will be discussed later in the chapter. Schumpeter distinguished between the types of K changes that organizations experience, including invention, innovation, and 4 imitation. Invention involves the creation of a new product A or process. When an organization utilizes an invention to create a product or Sservice for a customer it becomes an innovation. And, the adoption of an innovation by a similar firm is S known as imitation.5 A innovation the transformation of creative ideas and concepts into products or services that meet the needs of customers invention involves the creation of a new product or process As an example, consider Thomas Edison, the famous inventor of the late nineteenth N and early twentieth centuries. Edison worked tirelessly to invent the incandescent light bulb. He Dthen transformed this invention into aRtrue innovation when, in 1882, he flipped the switch and A produced light at his Pearl Street station in New York City.6 Not long afterward, George Westinghouse imitated Edison’s 2 innovation by building very similar 1 electrical systems utilizing alternating current instead 6of Edison’s choice of direct current. 1 T S George Westinghouse (1846 - 1914) Source: Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, LC-B2-1049-12 Organizational Theory 9-2 The accelerated nature of competition in today’s global business environment has made innovation a critical organizational activity. Other types of organizational change have also moved to the forefront, including re-structuring and reengineering, as firms attempt to become more efficient and effective in their operations. Yet it is innovation, the managed effort of organizations to get new products and services to market, that separates competitors earning above-average returns from those earning less. 9-2 Types of Innovation W Most innovations can be categorized in one of two ways.I An innovation is either product-oriented or process-oriented.7 Creating new products or services and L is product-oriented bringing them to market creating new consumer demand innovation. This creation of a new product or service that L replaces an existing one is also referred to as radical innovation. Product-oriented innovation also I applies to incremental innovation, the improvement of existing products or services to enhance their marketability.8 Process-orientedSinnovation involves the improvement of existing production processes or other organizational processes , such as management, organizational reporting structures, or information processing systems. Process-oriented innovations can also be radical, such as the creation of K an entirely new production process, or incremental. A Product-oriented innovations abound in today’s society, S as individuals and companies move into a wireless age of communication with cellular telephones S innovations are less that serve a wide variety of applications. Process-oriented obvious to the public but not less novel as organizations find A creative solutions to combat waste and slack in the manufacture and delivery N of goods and services to remain competitive. 9-3 Sources for Innovative Opportunity D R A 2 of an entrepreneur There is a common perception that innovation is the result having a magical moment where a bright idea ignites a1creative impulse to go to work. In actuality, the process of innovation is usually a one-step-at-a-time 6 plodding that eventually results in the creation of something new and improved out 1 of existing knowledge. In fact, the key to organizations becoming more innovative is to practice systematic innovation. Organizations should support the search for T changes in the environment and identify how those changes can be systematically S analyzed as to their future innovative potential. Two environments provide the backdrop for this purposeful search for change by organizations. Within these two environments, Peter Drucker has identified seven sources to monitor for potential innovative opportunities. The first environment is the firm and the industry in which it operates. This environment is home to four of the seven sources: product-oriented innovation creating new products or services and bringing them to market creating new consumer demand radical innovation creation of a new product or service that replaces an existing one incremental innovation the improvement of existing products or services to enhance their marketability process-oriented innovation the improvement of existing production processes or other organizational processes such as management, organizational reporting structures, or information processing systems systematic innovation the search for changes in the environment and the identification of how those changes can be systematically analyzed as to their future innovative potential Organizational Theory 9-3 • The unexpected—an event that has not been anticipated, such as the unexpected success or the unexpected failure • The incongruity—is something not quite as it is assumed to be or ought to be • Innovation based on process need—the result of a problem within the organization that must be solved • Changes in industry structure or market structure—are usually a surprise to everyone in the industry The second environment that provides sources of innovative opportunity is the general environment, a macroenvironment that is outside the scope of the firm and its industry. The remaining three sources are: • Demographics—changes in population sizes, ageW distributions, and so forth I L L either through science or society9 • New knowledge—the discovery of something new, I To provide a clearer understanding of Drucker’s work, examples are included below of each source of innovation. These examples were cited by Drucker in his work onSinnovation and entrepreneurship. , • Changes in perception, mood, and meaning—sociocultural changes within populations • The unexpected – The computer was developed for the purpose of furthering science and facilitating the work of scientist. Early on, however, businesses began to demand the use of computers for such functions K not what the inventors of the computer had in mind. as payroll and accounts receivable. This was clearly A • The incongruity – An incongruity is a discrepancySbetween what is and what ought to be. Large steel mills seemed to only do well during times of war. When there was a need for incremental capacity expansion, the S expansion was so expensive it only allowed for short-term profits. The answer was the concept of the minimill, a way to provide additional capacity to meetAexisting demand in an affordable manner. N • Process need – Early telephone service in America was manual, processed by operators. Around 1909 it D the Bell company to employ every woman in America was projected that population growth would require between the ages of seventeen and sixty as an operator R by 1930. Within two years of realizing this limitation of manual calling, the Bell engineers had designed the automated dialing system. A • Changes in industry or market structure – In the 1960s, when the automobile industry went global, a struggling small car company named Volvo decided 2 to become a world car company. It advertised its cars as sensible, sturdy and safe transportation that was a better value than other more or less expensive models. • 1 6 the Latin American region of the world led to a growth Demographics – Improvements in public health in in populations, due in large part to a drop in the1infant mortality rate. What followed was a tremendous growth in the urbanization of the region. Former Sears’ chairman, Robert E. Wood, after reading about this T region, studied the competition, and designed an entry population explosion in the early 1950s, visited the strategy to take advantage of this opportunity. S • Changes in perception – Sometime during the early 1950s, Americans began to refer to themselves as being part of a “middle class” rather than a “working class.” William Benton, owner of Encyclopedia Britannica, discovered that middle class standing was achieved, in part, by attaining a high school education. In response he enlisted the help of high school teachers to sell his product to parents of students. If you wanted your child to do well in school, and achieve a middle class standing, you needed encyclopedias in your home. Organizational Theory 9-4 • New knowledge – Lee de Forest, and American, invented the audion tube in 1906. This invention was the key to developing the radio. Although new knowledge many times precedes its actual application by thirty or more years, the radio was introduced to the public in the early 1920s. Its introduction, ahead of its time, was a result of the need during World War I for a wireless transmission instrument. Successful innovation by organizations is the result of exploiting these seven sources of innovative opportunity from the general and industry/firm environments. Viewed from this perspective, innovation is not a technical term. Rather, it is an economic or social concept representing the process of transforming creative ideas into something that satisfies customers’ needs. W I L 9-4 The Innovation Process—A Life CycleLApproach I Each innovative process refers to how innovations are nurtured and facilitated S This is known as from the early development stage to an eventual decline. a life cycle approach. The concept of life cycle has been , borrowed from the biological sciences, where organisms are born, grow, mature, and eventually die.10 Management researchers have utilized this model to study organizations, products, K change.11 and the changing priorities of top managers as organizations innovative process a life cycle approach concerned with how innovations are facilitated from development to decline A S S idea, evaluates its Development – The organization takes a creative potential, and modifies it A Application – From this modified, creative idea aNnew product or service D is produced R Launch – The new product or service is made available to the marketplace A The innovative process of organizations consists of six stages of life: 1. 2. 3. 4. Growth – The launch of the new product or service is successful, and demand for it grows 5. 6. 2 1 imitate the product Maturity – Demand levels off, as other organizations or service 6 1 Decline – Demand declines as new substitute products or services are T embraced by the market.12 S In today’s hypercompetitive business environment, life cycles of innovations are becoming shorter and shorter. Organizations can no longer rely on a new product or service providing them with long-tem profits. This is why innovation needs to be systematized through an organizational culture that promotes and rewards innovative behavior. Organizational Theory 9-5 9-5 Promoting Innovation Organizational culture is the shared values and patterns of belief that are accepted and practiced by members of a particular organization. Culture can play a large role in developing positive or negative attitudes about innovation among organizational members. If an organization values innovative activity and behavior, that behavior will be pursued by its associates. If, however, an organization promotes a bureaucratic culture with strict adherence to standardized policies and procedures, innovation can be hindered. W I L Organizations that promote innovation through their unique cultures include 3 M, Johnson & L Johnson, Apple Computer, and Merck. As a result, I these organizations lead their industries in new S and innovative product and service activity. They promote innovation by communicating a sense to their associates that innovation , is valued and rewarded. Risk taking is not punished or discouraged in these organizations, giving employees an assurance that reaching for something new K and creative is not a contrary activity. A When large organizations promote innovative activity, they are said to be supporting S intrapreneurship. Intrapreneurship, also known as corporate entrepreneurship, S a corporate structure. is the term used to denote entrepreneurial activity within Individual organizational members “buy in” to the culturalAbent toward innovation by pursuing entrepreneurial ventures within the confines and for the benefit of their N large organization. D A company’s reward system is an overt mechanism of recognition R and compensation to promote intrapreneurship, or innovation within the firm. Employees engage in A actions that are encouraged and rewarded, and they tend to avoid actions that are discouraged or punished. An important aspect of a reward system for innovation is the provision of an actual financial or nonfinancial incentive2for innovative behavior. The reward serves to reinforce the promotion of innovative idea generation within 1 the organization. 6 One non-financial method of promoting innovation is the1concept of skunk works described by Peters and Waterman in their classic work, In Search of Excellence.13 T Excellent companies separate small teams of associates, sometimes called venture teams, into secluded or isolated quarters, away from theScorporate office, where creative thinking and experimentation can be converted into innovative products or services. Other organizations promote innovation through creative departments,14 such as research and development. intrapreneurship entrepreneurial activity within a corporate structure reward system an overt mechanism of recognition and compensation to promote intrapreneurship or innovation within the firm venture terms where companies separate small teams of associates into secluded or isolated quarters where creative thinking and experimentation can be converted into innovative products or services Organizational Theory 9-6 Best Practices GM and Saturn During the 1970’s, General Motors faced tremendous competition from smaller, more fuel-efficient Japanese automobiles. Fueled by the gasoline crisis earlier in the decade, Toyota, Honda, and Nissan had stolen significant market share from American automobile makers, particularly GM. To combat this threat, GM’s CEO Roger Smith felt he had to develop an innovative group of designers who could pursue the process of new-car building without the baggage traditionally present at the firm. To accomplish this, Smith created a venture team to develop and bring to market the Saturn model. Saturn was to be built in Tennessee, far from the rust-belt Midwest, the traditional home of GM factories and unions. This seclusion enabled team members to work outside the normal W confines of a very bureaucratic organization, creating a freedom to pursue something new. The I Saturn automobile, cited for its quality and dependability, was a worthy challenge to the Japanese L imports. L Firms must be careful not to encourage only successful innovative efforts. New product and I much trial and error learning. Due to the hyperservice creation is a difficult undertaking, requiring competitive environment in which most firms S exist, ideas that seemed sound and marketable in the early stages may not be viable by the time they,reach application. K A S 9-6 Reasons For Not Innovating S Some organizations never seem to introduce A anything new or innovative, relying instead on the imitation and duplication of others’ successes.NThese organizations fail to innovate due to lack of resources, failure to recognize opportunities, or a built-in resistance to change.15 D 1) Lack of Resources – to be successful R at innovation, an organization must be able to devote financial resources to the process. A Likewise, individual and collective talent must be available within the organization to pursue innovative progress. These resources, people and money, are limited in every organization. Some firms do not generate enough profit to have the excess capital needed 2 to fund the innovation process. No organization can finance the pursuit of all the creative 1 ideas or innovative concepts that its employees might pursue. Discriminating decision makers must choose only those that promise the 6 greatest potential for success. 1 2) Failure to Recognize Opportunities – Firms that are unskilled in the art of recognizing T potentially profitable innovations lag behind others in the introduction of new products S unwisely in projects that are mere ontinuations of, and services. Capital may be invested or minor improvements to, existing products and services, lacking innovative qualities from the beginning. 3) Resistance to Change – Some organizations simply do not promote change. They have a built-in resistance to trying anything new that completely stifles innovation. Old, triedand-true methods that worked in the past are considered to be intractable. And, some Organizational Theory 9-7 firms choose not to change because the operational strategy they have employed is working satisfactorily, producing profits and maintaining market share. The only problem with this approach is that most firms are trying to improve their products and/or services to their customers in an effort to grow their market share. When firms choose to not change, they tend to eventually get left behind by the competition. 9-7 Organizational Change When firms innovate, organizational change is inevitable. W The development of new production techniques, the creation of new products, I or the implementation of new organizational structures are all innovations that demand organizational L change. Organizational change is the adoption by an organization of any new 16 idea, behavior, or substantive modification. L 9-7a Forces for Change I S , organizational change the adoption by an organization of any new idea, behavior, or substantive modification Firms constantly impact and are impacted by the general and industry environments. Change in these external environments is many times the force for change within the organization. External forces that can have dramatic K effects on organizations include influences from sectors of the general environment, A such as technology, political-legal, sociocultural, demographic, economic, and global.17 Examples S and societal changes include widespread economic depression, aging populations, in values. External forces are also found in the industry environment that includes S the labor supply, competitors, customers, suppliers, regulators, A and partners. These organizational stakeholders are in a position to affect change in a much more direct N manner. D Internal forces for change exist within the organization’s internal environment. R These influences can come from owners, employees, shareholders, or directors, A someone or some group with a serious stake in the organization’s future. Many times the internal force for change is in response to an external environmental influence. For example, changes in technology, specifically the development of 2 the personal computer and the Internet, have allowed some workers to perform their jobs at home, working individually on their own1time. This has caused organizational change as employers grapple with managing 6 the business through e-mail rather than face-to-face communication. 1 9-7b Types of Change T S Just as with innovation, organizational change can be either radical or incremental. Evolutionary change involves a series of small progressive steps that do not change the organization’s general equilibrium.18 Revolutionary change tends to alter or transform the entire organization. Two other types of change include planned and reactive. evolutionary change involves a series of small progressive steps that do not change the organization’s general equilibrium revolutionary change alters or transforms the entire organization planned change a response that is deliverately thought out and implemented in anticipation of future opportunities and threats Organizational Theory 9-8 Career Point Organizational Change Some people are deathly afraid of change. Others welcome change and embrace it. When organizations experience change, individual members are threatened because it takes them out of their comfort zone. And, in some cases, change costs them their jobs. In particular, corporate entities of large size tend to undergo regular structural changes, commonly referred to as re-orgs. Reorganizations can cause people to be moved from one position, department, or even division to another, sometimes involving relocation. If changes in your life tend to cause you great discomfort, look for a career in an organization that experiences only gradual change. Older, larger, and more bureaucratic organizations tend to mainW tain a similar operational style for decades at a time. Also, firms that are dependent on extensive I economies of scale that are expensive to replace. technology change slowly due to extremely large L Many people are very opposed to changes in location. If you do not want to leave a certain geoL graphic area, try to find a position with a firm that only has local operations. Large multinational I organizations have global needs that require a global workforce. S Remember, however, no matter what organization employs you, change is a natural occurrence, , driven many times by changes in the environment. When change is announced, find out everything you can about it. The more you understand the change and the need for it, the easier it will be for you K to accept and even promote the A S Evolutionary Change S Organizations regularly undergo evolutionary change. It occurs over time, usually within the confines of the existing structure, strategy, and decision-making processes. This type of change sometimes A affects only parts of the organization and many times involves changes in technology or information N systems implementations. The limited reach of incremental or evolutionary change makes it simple D to manage, as the existing framework of the organization is unaffected. R Revolutionary Change A Differing greatly from the slower-moving evolutionary change, revolutionary change tends to alter an organization’s essential core beliefs and structure.19 For example, organizations that once lacked inertia and took years just to move slightly 2 in one direction or the other can be transformed through revolutionary change, becoming nimble, responsive, and customer-driven. Bill Ford, in a 1 planned and organized manner, is trying to radically change the Ford Motor Company from a firm used to evolutionary change to one that accepts6and understands the need for revolutionary change. Managing revolutionary periods of change is difficult at best. The change is so drastic that it usually 1 catches everyone off-guard and meets stiff resistance, particularly from long-term employees. T S Planned Change Planned change is a response that is deliberately thought out and implemented in anticipation of future opportunities and threats. Planned change can be facilitated through the efforts of a change agent, a person from within or from outside of the organization who marshals the resources and leads the other organizational members through the change process.20 Sam Palmisano’s recent initiative in the area of business on demand for IBM is an example of a planned, organization-wide integration of resources to provide a superior service to its customers. Organizational Theory 9-9 Managing Planned Organizational Change Planned change can be enacted in four general areas of an organization. They are: • Technology—changes in the production process; • Products and Services—involves output changes; • Structure and Systems—focuses on administrative changes; • People—changes in peoples’ values, attitudes, and beliefs.21 Organizations that value their members choose not to release at will those who can contribute to its overall success, even if there needs to be some W change in their attitudes or beliefs. I Figure 9-1 reflects the four types of change that can provide a stragegic advantage if properly implemented. L Organizational change is always viewed as difficultLand time consuming. The need for change in an everchanging business environment, however, is impossible I to ignore. The strategic importance of successfully implementing changes in technology, products and services, structure and systems, or people are discussed S below. , The first area of planned change, technology, encompasses a wide array of organizational alterations. Technology changes are usually implemented to improve efficiency or effectiveness. Examples include information systems K improvements, machinery and equipment replacements, and the sequence of activities required to deliver A changes can increase the speed at which customer products and services to market. Successful technology service is delivered, lower production S costs such as substituting robotics on S the automobile assembly line for human A labor, and raise the overall information level of the organization as more people N have access to more information through D technological innovations. R A 2 1 6 1 T S Figure 9-1 Changes in products or services are primarily undertaken to increase market share. These changes can be new products or services, alterations to existing products or services, or both. Nowhere is this more prevalent than at 3 M where 30% of revenues each year must come from new products developed within the last four years.22 This new-product pipeline provides 3 M with great public relations’ stories and customer loyalty. Changes in structure and systems refer to how firms are administered. Each organization has a distinct structure that determines reporting relationships, Organizational Theory 9-10 division of work, and primary responsibilities. Organizational strategy and how it is implemented would also fall under this heading. Indeed, structural changes are many times needed to support a new strategy. Too many times firms want to reorganize to improve performance, when it actually is the strategic direction that’s the problem. To avoid this common mistake, organizations should perform an internal audit, commonly referred to as a SWOT analysis. This audit details the firm’s strengths and weaknesses and matches those with its environmental opportunities and threats. Finally, changes in the people of organizations may be the most difficult to implement, but, if successful, they can make a bigger difference in the organization than any of the other three. The peoples’ beliefs and values W are established from the beginning of an organization’s existence by the founder(s). As more people are I with the underlying added to the staff over a period of time, each is indoctrinated values and beliefs the company promotes. The phrase L “That’s not how we do things around here” has been spoken at businesses for centuries. However, today’s L business environment rewards those firms that strive for constant innovation and improvement. And, innovation and improvement have toI have a supportive and S rewarded corporate culture if they are to flourish. , As forces for change put pressure on the organization, managers can simply react to each situation as it arises. Reactive change is usually piecemeal and in direct response to a specific opportunity or threat from the K external environment. Strategically, reactive change is a clear indication that an A organization has lost its way, choosing to maintain a certain status quo, reacting to environmental conditions only when they appear to directly challenge the S organization’s existence. When organizational managers realize they are in a reactive S mode it is usually the result of political infighting and power struggles that exist A at the expense of the overall health of the firm. A return to a strategic management approach to the business that focuses on establishing goals and objectivesNand a process for their D is the best way out of accomplishment, based on the mission of the organization, the reactive mode. R 9-7c The Change Process reactive change usually piecemeal and in direct response to a specific opportunity or threat from the external environment A Because organizational culture is established from the2beginning of a firm’s existence, change is usually difficult to enact. Kurt Lewin has proposed a simple 1 model for change agents to adopt in attempting organizational change. Lewin suggests that organizational change is a three-step process. 6 23 Step one involves unfreezing current behavior to reduce resistance to change. 1 This requires making a strong case for the need for change and its importance to the long-term success T of the organization. The second step is moving, implementing the change itself. And, third, to ensure the change becomes part of the organizational landscape, a S new refreezing process is necessary. New behavior that supports the change must be reinforced and rewarded. Rossabeth Moss Kanter contends that Lewin’s model is actually much too simple for the modern complex organization. According to Kanter, Lewin’s model provides managers with a straightforward manner of approaching a very complex task, and Organizational Theory 9-11 that is why the model has survived for well over a half century.24 Kanter’s “Big Three” model of change involves understanding an organization’s movement, the forms change can take, and the action roles necessary for the change process. She contends that organizations are never really frozen as depicted by Lewin’s ice cube example. Rather, organizations are very fluid, moving through developmental stages that overlap. Another way to enact change is through action research. Action research relies on initial organization research, followed by actions that are evaluated and serve as the basis for future change. This model usually involves planned change experts in organization development who work closely with organization managers, assisting in the implementation of an on-site intervention.25 Some Worganizational change is very difficult to accomplish, and involving action research professionals from I process. outside the organization greatly facilitates the needed change L 9-7d Resistance to Change L I It is very difficult for managers to enact change in an organization if they do not understand why employees are so resistant to change. The S primary reasons for resistance to change are uncertainty, lack of understanding , and trust, differing 26 action research a model that usually involves planned change experts in organization development who work closely with organization managers, assisting in the implementation of an onsite intervention perceptions, self- interest, and feelings of loss. Uncertainty refers to the fear of the unknown experienced by a firm’s employees when confronted with the need for change. They are concerned that they cannot perform under K new rules or policies, they may not be predisposed to change as far as their personality is concerned, or A they may believe the change will lead to a loss of jobs. S Some workplaces have developed a lack of trust toward management. This translates S to a resistance to any kind of change due to years of mistrust between management A and labor. Or they may simply not understand the need for change due to its being poorly articulated by management. Some resistance is a N lack of agreement as to the true nature of a problem, or, put another way, a differing D perception as to what really is the need for change. This is especially prone to occur R if one manager, or a small handful of managers, makes a decision to enact change without input from A other sources. The self-interest of managers, and sometimes employees, is another barrier to change in any organization. Power and status that take years to acquire can be lost in one, sweeping reorganization.27 Managers protect their ‘turf’ by finding excuses as to why a particular change is not going to work, even though it might actually be very good for the organization. When old 2 1 6 1 T S Managers who are tasked with an internal change project must overcome employees’ resistance to change due to uncertainty and self-intrest Organizational Theory 9-12 methods are held to be too sacred, organizational employees may find themselves incapable of the change required to meet new external challenges. Similar to this is the notion of sense of loss. Employees develop strong social alliances over time, and many organizational changes directly impact those alliances. People are asked to move from one city to another, one division to another, or one continent to another, breaking up long-standing social networks. Employees effectively become removed from their comfort zone and at-work friends. 9-7e Overcoming Resistance to Change W Empirical research has demonstrated that participation may I be the most effective mechanism for overcoming resistance to change. As people are invited to actively L to take ownership of assist in implementing an organizational change, they tend the change to ensure its success. This is especially true when L external leaders are included directly in organizations, such as a local banker I becoming a member of the board of directors. This process, known as cooptation, fosters better Sas the banker becomes cooperation between the firm and its external environment psychologically vested in the success of the firm once, he joins the board of directors. Communication is another important requisite to successful change efforts, as people need information about the specific need for change if they are to K be persuaded to help with its implementation. Another potential change approach is that of facilitation. If employees are having trouble adjusting, facilitation is the A best approach, but it can be expensive and time-consuming. S cooptation a process where leaders from the environment become active in the organization; for example, a banker might become a member of the firm’s board of directors S For organizations facing stiff resistance, three other approaches are available, all with negative drawbacks. The first is negotiation where A management agrees to give something up to accomplish the needed change. NNegotiation can set a negative precedent, leading others to try the same tactic when change is needed D tactics will not work. again. A second approach is manipulation, used only if other Manipulation can create a feeling in employees of being Rused by management. And, third, is coercion, a speedy tactic designed to A overcome any kind of resistance. Coercion can leave employees angry with management, leading to future problems.28 2 9-7f Reengineering 1 6 One of the most difficult organizational change processes being undertaken today 1 Reengineering the is business process reengineering. Made popular by the book, Corporation by Michael Hammer and James Champy, reengineering is defined as T “a radical redesign of business processes in a cross-functional S manner to achieve 29 major gains in cost, service, or time.” Similar to zero-based budgeting, the concept involves redesigning your organization’s processes as if they could be done over completely from the beginning. Or, put another way, if the organization had a blank sheet of paper and began designing its production and service processes, what would they look like? reengineering a radical redesign of business processes in a cross-functional manner to achieve major gains in cost, service, or time Reengineering is somewhat threatening to employees. Processes and steps in the Organizational Theory 9-13 value chain that have been part of the organization for decades come under close scrutiny. Jobs can be eliminated when it is discovered that value is no longer being added by a particular function or process. Reengineering has been found to be most effective in large organizations, particularly those with needs in the area of new-product development and customer service. Mature organizations that tend to operate as bureaucracies find ways to reduce overhead costs and eliminate duplication of process through reengineering efforts. At Motorola, cellular telephone production time was reduced from 14 hours to 2 through a reengineering project. Reengineering is too costly, time consuming, and threatening to employees, however, to be undertaken for simple refinements or quality improvements. 9-7g The Learning Organization The final organizational change process is the movement W to become a learning organization. Made popular by Peter Senge, the concept of a learning organization refers to an organization continually and proactively creating, acquiring, and enacting knowledge. Then, onIthe basis of this new knowledge, the organization changes L be discussed in detail in Chapter 11. to something different.30 The learning organization will Summary L I S , Most management researchers contend that organizations must innovate if they are to successfully compete in the current global business arena. KInnovation is the transformation of creative ideas into products or services that fulfill customers’ needs. Systematic innovation is possible through the A establishment of an organizational culture that encourages and rewards innovative behavior without S or venture teams can be vehicles by which organizations punishing failed attempts. Creative departments promote innovation. S A the need for change. Resistance to change is stiff due To facilitate innovation, many organizations face N of understanding and trust, differing perceptions, selfto a variety of reasons, such as uncertainty, lack interest, and feelings of loss. D Review Questions & Exercises 1. 2. 3. R A 2 Discuss the difference between invention1and innovation. 6 Innovations are either process-oriented or product-oriented. Which would be more important in a 1 service business? Why? T Provide an example of, and explain how, S a change in demographics can be perceived as a source of innovation for an organization. 4. Why do you think the life cycle of innovations has become shorter than it was 40 or 50 years ago? 5. Explain the difference between evolutionary and revolutionary change. 6. Why are organizational members so resistant to change? Organizational Theory 9-14 Glossary • Action Research a model that usually involves planned change experts in organization development who work closely with organization managers, assisting in the implementation of an on-site intervention • Cooptation a process where leaders from the environment become active in the organization. For example, a banker might become a member of the firm’s board of directors • Evolutionary change Involves a series of small progressive steps that do not change the organization’s general equilibrium W • Incremental innovation marketability • I L L Innovation The transformation of creative ideas and concepts into products or services that meet I the needs of customers S Innovative process How innovations ,are facilitated from development to decline, a life cycle • Intrapreneurship • Invention • • • • The improvement of existing products or services to enhance their approach Entrepreneurial activity K within a corporate structure A S Learning organization Refers to an organization continually and proactively creating, acquiring, S and enacting knowledge A Organizational change The adoption byNan organization of any new idea, behavior, or substantive modification D R Planned change A response that is deliberately thought out and implemented in anticipation of future opportunities and threats A Involves the creation of a new product or process • Product-oriented innovation Creating new products or services and bringing them to market 2 creating new consumer demand. • Process-oriented innovation The improvement of existing production processes or other 6 organizational processes such as management, organizational reporting structures, or information 1 processing systems • Revolutionary change Alters or transforms the entire organization • Radical innovation • Reactive change is usually piecemeal and in direct response to a specific opportunity or threat from the external environment • Reengineering 1 T S Creation of a new product or service that replaces an existing one. A radical redesign of business processes in a cross-functional manner to achieve Organizational Theory 9-15 major gains in cost, service, or time • Reward system An overt mechanism of recognition and compensation to promote intrapreneurship, or innovation within the firm • Systematic innovation The search for changes in the environment and identify how those changes can be systematically analyzed as to their future innovative potential • Venture teams Where companies separate small teams of associates into secluded or isolated quarters where creative thinking and experimentation can be converted into innovative products or services W I L York, NY: Harper & Row. P. Drucker, 1985. Innovation and Entrepreneurship, New L J. Schumpeter, 1934. The Theory of Economic Development, Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. I Van de Ven, 1986. Central problems in the management of innovation, Management Science, 32, 590-607. S J. Schumpeter, 1934. , (Endnotes) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. P. Sharma & J. L. Chrisman, 1999. Toward a reconciliation of the definitional issues in the field of corporate entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurship Theory & Practice, 23 (3), 11-27. 6. B. McCormick, 2001. At Work With Thomas Edison, Canada: Entrepreneur Press. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. K A E. B. Roberts, 2002. Innovation: Driving Product, Process, S and Market Change. San Francisco, CA: Josey-Bass. S Research Technology Management, January-February, E. B. Roberts, 1988. Managing invention and innovation, 1-19. A P. Drucker, 1985. N D of organization life cycle, Journal of Applied Management D. Lester & J.A. Parnell, 1999. A strategic interpretation and Entrepreneurship, 5 (1), 14-32. R A business growth, Harvard Business Review, 61, May-June, N. Churchill & V. Lewis, 1983. The five stages of small 30-50. 12. L. B. Mohr, 1969. Determinants of innovation in organizations, American Political Science Review, 111-126; G. A. 2 Steiner, 1965. The Creative Organization. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press; J. E. Ettlie, 1980. Adequacy 1 of stage models for decisions on adoption of innovation, Psychological Reports, 28-36. 6 1 H. Mintzberg, 1979. The Structuring of Organizations.T Englewood-Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall. R. Griffin, 1999. Management, 6th ed. Boston, MA:SHoughton-Mifflin Company. 13. T. J. Peters and R.H. Waterman, In Search of Excellence (New York: Harper & Row Publishers 1982) 14. 15. 16. J.L. Pierce & A.L. Delbecq, 1997. Organizational structure, individual attitudes, and innovation, Academy of Management Review, 2, 27-37. 17. T. J. Dean, R. L. Brown, & C. E. Bamford, 1998. Differences in large and small firm responses to environmental context: Strategic implications from a comparative analysis of business formations, Strategic Management Journal, 19, 709-728. Organizational Theory 9-16 18. D. Miller, 1982. Evolution and revolution: A quantum view of structural change in organizations. Journal of Management Studies, 19, 111-151. D. Miller & P. Friesen, 1980. Momentum and revolution in organization adaptation. Academy of Management Journal, 23, 591-614. 19. A. D. Meyer, J. B. Goes, & G. R. Brooks, 1992. Organizations in disequilibrium: Environmental jolts and industry revolutions, in G. Huber and W.H. Glick, eds., Organizational Change and Redesign, New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 66-111; and M.L. Tushman, W.H. Newman, & E. Romanelli, 1986. Convergence and upheaval: Managing the unsteady pace of organizational evolution California Management Review, 29(1), 29-44. 20. R. McLennan, 1989. Managing Organizational Change, Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall. 21. J. E. McCann, 1991. Design principles for an innovating company, Academy of Management Executive, 5, May, 76-93. W 22. L. D. DiSimone, 1995. How can big companies keep the entrepreneurial spirit alive?, Harvard Business Review, I November-December, 184-185. L method, and reality in social science. Human Relations, 23. K. Lewin, 1947. Frontiers in group dynamics: Concept, June, 5-41. L I 24. R.M. Kanter, B.A. Stein, & T.D. Jick, 1992. The Challenge of Organizational Change. New York, NY: the Free Press. S 25. T.G. Cummings, & C.G. Worley, 1993. Organization ,Development and Change, 5th ed. St. Paul, MN: West Publishing Company/ 26. A.S. Judson, 1991. Changing Behavior in Organizations: K Minimizing Resistance to Change. Cambridge, MA: Blackwell, Inc. A 27. H. Mintzberg, 1983. Power In and Around Organizations. S Englewood-Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, Inc. S for change. Harvard Business Review, March-April, 28. J. P. Kotter, & L. A. Schlessinger, 1979. Choosing strategies 106-114. 29. 30. A T. A. Stewart, 1993. Reengineering: The hot new management tool, Fortune, August 23, 41-48. N D Doubleday. P. M. Senge, 1990. The Fifth Discipline, New York, NY: R A 2 1 6 1 T S Organizational Theory 9-17 Organizational Technology Chapter Outline: 10-1 Introduction to Technology 10-2 Computer-Integrated Manufacturing 10-3 Manufacturing Technology and Technical Complexity 10-4 Management, Structure, and the Technological Imperative 10-5 Departmental Technology and Charles Perrow 10-6 The Interdependence of Work 10-7 People and Technology in Harmony Summary Review Questions Glossary Endnotes Key Terms computer-integrated manufacturing continuous process production craft technologies engineering technologies intensive technology job design job enlargement job enrichment joint optimization job rotation W I L L I S , K A S S A N D R A 2 1 6 1 T S large-batch technology long-linked technology mass customization mechanistic structure mediating technology nonroutine technologies organic structure pooled interdependence routine technologies sequential interdependence slack small-batch and unit production sociotechnical systems approach task analyzability task interdependence task variety technical complexity technological imperative technology 10 10-1 Introduction to Technology New employees coming into today’s modern workplace are faced with a myriad of challenges that demand specific skills and abilities. In 1991, the United States Secretary of Labor issued a report known as the Secretary’s Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills (SCANS) that outlined the basic skills required to be successful in the technologically challenging organizations of the future. Today we are seeing those organizations in full bloom throughout developed countries. Gone are the smelly, hot, hazardous factories of the past. Modern factories are clean, highly technical, and, in many cases, even air conditioned. Safety is a priority, and automatic, computer-managed production lines are the W norm. The skills and abilities articulated in the SCANS report (See Career Points I later in the chapter) over fifteen years ago are minimum requirements in the current organizational work environment. The backbreaking manual L labor force of the past has been replaced by thinking, communicating, problem-solving individuals who L understand computers as well as they do the products they make. I Modern production facilities, like the Porter-Cable plant in Jackson, Tennessee, S that produces electric tools through the use of computer-integrated manufacturing techniques, thrive on technology. Technology is a term ,that describes the ways that organizations find to do something. It may include the use of machinery and equipment, production materials, computers, or practically any skills and K techniques necessary to take inputs and transform them into outputs. In chapter 1 we presented the Business System model in Figure A 1 that demonstrates the transformation process. None of the three steps, inputs, transformation, or outputs, S would be ...
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Running Head: CHALLENGES OF PLANNED CHANGE

Top 3 Challenges for Employees during Planned Change
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CHALLENGES OF PLANNED CHANGE

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Change in organizations involves transforming, reorganizing, restructuring and
developing the organization’s systems and strategies to improve an organizations performance.
Planning, implementing and affecting these changes are all complex process that sometimes
presents challenges to employees. One of the challenges is that change presents uncertainty and a
feeling of loss especiall...


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