This document provides guidance for an assignment on organizational change. It discusses that some theorists believe traditional organizational development is no longer relevant given today's turbulent business environment. Students must critically discuss this statement using theoretical perspectives, research evidence, and business examples. The document outlines the assignment requirements, provides background on organizational development and strategic management approaches to change, discusses relevant change drivers and theories to reference, and offers tips on structuring the essay and achieving different grade levels.

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MGF3621: Organisational Change
Essay
Preparation

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Assignment 1
• Individual Essay
• Due week 8 on the Monday 5pm - Moodle
• Worth 30%
• 3,000 words
• 7 Journal Articles
• APA Referencing
• TAKE A POSITION

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Question
Some theorists/authors have recently suggested that traditional
organisational development (i.e. emphasising internal factors at the
group and interpersonal levels and focusing on issues such as
empowerment, team building, conflict, management, etc.) is no longer
relevant to change management, particularly given the current
turbulent environment in which business operate.
Critically discuss this statement, drawing on
• theoretical perspectives,
• research evidence and
• business examples

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Breaking it Down
• What did the question say?
– OD is no longer relevant
– Due to the turbulent business environment
– Do you agree?
– Use theory
– Past research
– Current business examples

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Two Broad Approaches to Change
Organisational Development
• spawned from human relations
movement
• bottom-up
• focus on the present, change
process & targets
• focus on people – group dynamics,
leadership, communication
• leverage from feedback loops
• Interventions – human relations
(Johari window, team building,
empowerment etc)
• About developing people &
organisations
• Issues with Strategic Management
apparent lack of regard for &
understanding of people
Strategic Management
• spawned from business policy
(operations, finance, marketing)
• top-down
• focus on the future, goals &
stakeholders
• focus on structure, function &
motivation
• leverage from goal attainment
• Interventions -
downsizing, business process
re-
engineering, restructuring, comm
unications
• About driving change to achieve
individual & organisational gaols
• Issue with OD apparent lack of
pragmatism, process focus &
internal perspective

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Turbulent Business Environment
• GFC
• Globalisation
• European debt crisis
• Stronger Australian Dollar
• Exports and Imports
• Sustainability
• CSR
• Government Regulation

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Is OD Relevant?
• People based approach
• Can be time consuming
• Can be lengthy
• Little focus on the future
• People are the most important resource
• Don’t we need workers to work harder and smarter during
these times
• Focuses on the here and now, ensuring we are changing to
the environment

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Relevant Theory
• Look in the lecture slides
• Look in your readings
• You can draw from anything that is relevant
– Change Typologies
– Lewin’s Change Model
– Four Change Strategies
– This was just from me opening up the Week 2 lecture
slides

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Business Examples
• Ross has used some in the lectures
• If you are arguing how important OT is – google
downsizing!
• If you are arguing against OT – google downsizing!

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Structure
• Introduction
– Introduction into the topic (business environment)
– What will the essay discuss (position)
• A definition of OT and OD?
• 3-5 key reasons as to why you are arguing your
point – all in separate paragraphs
• Conclusion
– Restate the point

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Marks
• Focus
– Make sure every paragraph adds to your argument
• Integration
– Make sure there is a logical red line from one idea to
the next
• Understanding and Insight
– Have you demonstrated that you understand the
concepts by integrating differing opinions not just he
said she said

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Marks
• Reference to Appropriate Theories and Models
– Is the theory you are using relevant or have you just
explained Lewin’s model for 2 pages for no reason?
• Definitions
– Are you able to define any key terms that are used in
your essay (i.e. OT and OD)
• Presentation
– Does it look and sound like a 3rd year essay
• References
– 7 references at least in the APA format and are they
quality references

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Difference in Marks
• F – Can talk about OD and OT but offers little analysis and
just regurgitates the textbook.
• P – Had a clear contention and some good reasons why OD
is / isn't relevant. Doesn’t do much else.
• C – Identifies the theories and identifies business change but
doesn’t have the skill to make a link between the two.
• D – Outstanding analysis and understanding OD/OT and
good business examples.
• HD – I learnt something from reading the essay. It was
interesting and thought provoking. Strong use of theory
and business examples.

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Difference in Marks
• F – OD is no longer relevant because of the GFC. Because of the
GFC organisations need to downsize.
• P – As the GFC affected organisations bottom lines, and severe
cuts to disposable income, organisations needed to respond
quickly to remain solvent. Therefore, downsizing was one tactic
undertaken.
• C – Drawing from Narayanan & Nath’s theory of planned change,
organisations affected by falling bottom lines from the GFC can
adapt via OT interventions. An intervention is downsizing.
Downsizing was used by Qantas….
• D – OT has replaced OD as the most relevant form of planned
change in the modern turbulent environment. This has occurred
as OT has a greater focus on the organisation and the bottom
line that that of OD which primary focus is on people. Structural
interventions have started to emerge in order to adapt to the
changing global environment.

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Difference in Marks
• HD – The current business environment has developed as such that
the pressure on organisation change interventions has resulted
in a shift of thinking. In planning change, managers have started
to focus on structural interventions in order to align the structure
of the organisation with the organisational goals. From a
theoretical perspective, OT has become more relevant than OD.
To illustrate this point, Qantas have moved from an OD model
of planned change, (example) to a OT model (example) in order
to compete in the current environment.