Saturday, October 25, 2008

9.5 Degree of Change

Pages 323 through 327 discusses the dimensions of change.  I think that the degree of change can sometimes be the biggest factor.  As the book points out, first-order changes happen almost every single day and most people find a way to deal with it.  First-order changes are expected and people find it easier to adapt.  Second-order changes such as lay-offs are much more difficult for people to handle because they are unexpected.  Second-order changes can disrupt the system and create uncertainty, which makes it harder for employees to adapt to.  Of course, there will always be those who resist change regardless of the degree of seriousness.  

Although change does not have to be negative, it is sometimes perceived as negative initially until the benefits are seen.  We were recently told at work that there would be some changes in our budget due to the economy.  Our company takes its employees on a ski trip every January and this trip has been cancelled for 2009.  This change has been extremely difficult for most of us to accept.  Although this is probably the best decision for the company in the long run, it's being met with resistance.

4 comments:

Sree said...

The second order changes also a lot of time effect more people so we have something in common to discuss. We are facing a similar issue at work and there were a lot cuts in budgets due to economy and employees are not happy with some of them. But if realize that the management is doing it for a reason and be part of it the change will be easier to accept. If we think in the lines that missing a ski trip might save few peoples jobs as that money saved by not going to skiing can help pay the salaries for them, it will be easier. We might prefer all of co-workers having their jobs more than any other incentives.

violet said...

When i think of the different stages of order change what come to mind mind is the diagnosis of a disease. It is always easier to cure a disease when it is diagnosed at the initial stages, more the delay in the diagnoses more difficult it is for the body to be cured. So yes the first order change is definitely easier to adapt when compared to second.
And the change that occurred in your company must have been difficult to adapt to for sure. But like you said it is the way one takes or reacts to the changes. The changes should not always be perceived negatively.

crives said...
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crives said...

I think in a situation like we are currently in with the economy that employees need to understand changes to the budget and spending are necessary. The fact that employees are upset about this and have a hard time accepting the changes is understandable. At my office we have canceled all travel for the next 60 – 90 and have reevaluated the current budget allotments. We have an event planned for next March that we usually go off campus for but have now decided to move it on campus as to avoid the air travel costs. This makes sense to me. If we were not to make these changes it would look bad. Think of the money that was spent for AIG execs to go on a retreat in the current economic situation. It is not just a matter of saving money it is a matter of saving face.