MNG 91215 Assignment 2 and Assignment 3 Review

MNG 91215 Assignment 2 and Assignment 3 Review MNG 91215 2018 SP 4 1

Assessment 2 MNG 91215 2018 SP 4 2

‘Why is it that people issues can affect whether change will succeed or fail? ’. Managers need to attend to people issues throughout the whole change process. Yet a common mistake many managers make is to treat the need for change and what needs to be changed as a technical activity with no reference to the people issues. Consider an organisational change that you have recently experienced or are currently experiencing. Write a report that considers the potential people issue pressures that managers face to participate in organisational change. Your report must include two (2) of the following 'people' issues that are most relevant to your case: 1. Politics and power. 2. Leadership. 3. Communicating change. 4. Motivating others MNG 91215 2018 SP 4 3

Assessment 3 Consider an organisational change that you have recently experienced. Write a reflective essay that indicates how you personally transitioned in the change. Reflecting on the content of the unit identify the concepts, theories and tools you feel would be most helpful if you were invited to advise your organisation about how best to manage change. MNG 91215 2018 SP 4 4

Change is a journey that people react to in different ways Time MNG 91215 2018 SP 4 5

Guiding people through change • Bridges’ transition model MNG 91215 2018 SP 4 6

Reflective Writing MNG 91215 2017 SP 3 Reflective Writing 7

Reflection is: • a form of personal response to experiences, situations, events or new information. • a 'processing' phase where thinking and learning take place. There is neither a right nor a wrong way of reflective thinking, there are just questions to explore. MNG 91215 2018 SP 4 8

Why reflective writing • • • To make connections To examine your learning processes To clarify what you are learning To reflect on mistakes and successes To become an active and aware learner To become a reflective practitioner once you graduate and begin your professional life MNG 91215 2018 SP 4 9

Reflective writing is: • your response to experiences, opinions, events or new information • your response to thoughts and feelings • a way of thinking to explore your learning • an opportunity to gain self-knowledge • a way to achieve clarity and better understanding of what you are learning • a chance to develop and reinforce writing skills • a way of making meaning out of what you study MNG 91215 2018 SP 4 10

Reflective writing is not: • just conveying information, instruction or argument • pure description, though there may be descriptive elements • straightforward decision or judgement (e. g. about whether something is right or wrong, good or bad) • simple problem-solving • a summary of course notes • a standard university essay MNG 91215 2018 SP 4 11

What can I discuss? • Your perceptions. • Experiences, ideas and observations you have had, and how they relate to the topic. • What you found confusing, inspiring, difficult, interesting and why. • Questions you have • How you: – – solved a problem; reached a conclusion; found an answer; reached a point of understanding. MNG 91215 2018 SP 4 12

• Possibilities, speculations, hypotheses or solutions. • Alternative interpretations or different perspectives on what you have read or done in the topic. • Comparisons and connections between what your are learning and: – your prior knowledge and experience; – your prior assumptions and preconceptions; – what you know from other courses or disciplines. • How new ideas challenge what you already know. • What you need to explore next in terms of thoughts and actions. MNG 91215 2018 SP 4 13

Getting started 1. Clarify your task 2. Gather your ideas 3. Ask strategic questions 4. Reflect on yourself and your experience 5. Linking theory and practice MNG 91215 2018 SP 4 14

Task defined What? Why? Who? Action plan 3. Ask strategic questions MNG 91215 2018 SP 4 How? When? Where? 15

Be aware ! • Can I say what I think without references ? • Is it OK to write I think or I believe ? • Evidence, what evidence ? – Reflective writing is not an invitation to throw academic caution to the winds. MNG 91215 2018 SP 4 16

• Introducing an unsupportive opinion with I think/I believe does not change the essential and fundamental requirement of academic writing – to show the basis for statements you make. • What you have learnt or the insights you have gained need to be evidenced from both your personal experience AND related reading. • Aim to achieve a balance between your personal perspective, experience and ideas, and the requirements of good academic practice and rigorous thinking. MNG 91215 2017 SP 3 Reflective Writing 17

• …. After reflecting on the change I am much more aware of the importance of communication. I feel that I have gained a valuable lesson in understanding the role of communication in the change process, and will apply this to my future practice. What might a marker think ? MNG 91215 2018 SP 4 18

This is just your opinion. This look like an emotional response without any evidence of a search through the literature. MNG 91215 2018 SP 4 19

Writing style 1. Reflective writing is mostly subjective. • You can be reflective and logical, AND personal, hypothetical, critical and creative. • You can comment based on your experience, rather than limiting yourself to academic evidence. • Reflective writing includes: • description (what, when, who) and analysis (how, why, what if). MNG 91215 2018 SP 4 20

• You can use different modes of writing and language: – descriptive (outlining what something is or how something was done) – explanatory (explaining why or how it is like that) – expressive (I think, I feel, I believe) MNG 91215 2018 SP 4 21

Using ‘I’. . . It became apparent to me…. ……I felt disappointed that the change was not without challenges…. . ……I realise now that I should have …… MNG 91215 2018 SP 4 22

2. Looking back • You are looking back and REFLECTING on how your ideas or approach has changed – what happened THEN, and your analysis and reflection on it NOW. – ‘Looking back’ ………At the time…… ……Looking back on this experience now……. ……On further reflection, this experience highlights a series of weaknesses in……. . MNG 91215 2018 SP 4 23

The style is relatively informal, yet still uses full sentences. • Use full sentences and complete paragraphs • You can usually use personal pronouns like 'I', 'my' or 'we' • Keep colloquial language to a minimum (e. g. , kid, bloke, stuff) MNG 91215 2018 SP 4 24

Being reflective involves being: • Open • Curious • Patient • Honest • Rigorous MNG 91215 2018 SP 4 25

Sample model • • • Description Feelings Evaluation Analysis Conclusion MNG 91215 2018 SP 4 26

Set the context: As the marketing manager I was responsible for developing a strategy to communicate the change. What happened (Description): To prepare for the change our team was committed to a strategy of organisation-wide communication and openness regarding the change project to a degree that was thought to be unprecedented in the organisation's change history. Thoughts and feelings: Looking back, I am thoroughly disappointed in myself and very frustrated that we were not able to get staff buy-in to the change. The staff anxiety and cynicism regarding the change and our communication strategy left me feeling very deflated. MNG 91215 2018 SP 4 27

Evaluation: • This was a challenging experience. We had not received any formal training in effective communication strategies. Analysis (Linking the evidence - relevant theory/frameworks/concepts): Smith (2016) identifies that change participants can suffer information overload. Furthermore, overload can be even more problematic in organisations where participants are already in receipt of a high volume of other information (Jones 2014). Analysis and reflection: On further reflection, this experience highlights a series of faults with our strategy. MNG 91215 2018 SP 4 28

Understanding the application of the concepts in practice (and consequences): Reflecting on this experience, it was clear that the staff expected a more comprehensive explanation for the change decision. Smith (2012) highlights that this is necessary whether the outcomes are positive or negative. Ability to reflect on practical work experience: As a consequence. . . MNG 91215 2018 SP 4 29

Conclusion • After discussing the change with my colleagues, and reading a range of policy and literature on the topic, I have realised that the role of communication in organisations is a complex issue. Looking back on the time of change, I can now see……… I have become aware that effective communication is essential between all those involved in the change process. MNG 91215 2018 SP 4 30

Action plan/recommendations • After reflecting on this particular change, I will now apply a wider range of strategies to address the communication process. I will work alongside colleagues and stakeholders to ensure……. MNG 91215 2018 SP 4 31

Bain’s 5 Rs model MNG 91215 2018 SP 4 32

MNG 91215 2018 SP 4 33

THE END……. or is it ? • This may be the conclusion of your reflections on a single learning experience, but it lies at the heart of your development in both your studies and professional life to chart your ongoing learning and development. MNG 91215 2017 SP 3 Reflective Writing 34