Change Management: A General Framework for Managing Organizational Change

Management and Organization in a global environment
Change management general framework

Executive Summary
Change is an essential aspect of any organization. It is something that cannot be and must not
be avoided. In fact it is the first stepping stone to the growth of the organization. However,
managing change is not always an easy task. There are several theories upon change
management that clearly highlight upon the essential role played by change management
within any organization.
Leaders of the organization also play a significant role in ensuring the effectiveness of the
change management process. This report highlights upon several nuances of change
management. It also aims to dig deeper into the role played by managers in the change
project. For further clarity, IBM’s case study has been analyzed and understood and its
significance within the change process has been shared.

Contents
Executive Summary...................................................................................................................1
Introduction to change management..........................................................................................3
Calm waters and White water rapids.........................................................................................3
Kotter’s theory of change management.....................................................................................4
Step 1: Creating Urgency.......................................................................................................4
Step 2: Form a Coalition.........................................................................................................5
Step 3: Create a vision for the change....................................................................................5
Step 4: Communicate the vision.............................................................................................6
Step 5: Remove obstacles.......................................................................................................6
Step 6: Create short term wins................................................................................................6
Step 7: Build on the change....................................................................................................7
Step 8: Anchor the changes within the corporate culture.......................................................7
Force field analysis....................................................................................................................8
Role of a management in changing organization’s culture........................................................9
IBM Case Study.......................................................................................................................10
Conclusion................................................................................................................................11
References................................................................................................................................12

Introduction to change management
Change is a part of every organization. As the famous saying goes, change is the only
constant. This statement is most valid for organizations. The dynamic nature of the
organizations running today have enhanced focus upon understanding change, identifying
change, propagating change if required and managing it in an effective manner (Cameron &
Green, 2015).
One of the most essential roles of a manager involve change management. These changes that
envelope any organization can be structural changes, cultural changes, financial changes,
technological changes, changes in government policies of the state or even changes in the
physical working environment (Hornstein, 2015). Every new employee, every new manager
or every new client brings in a certain amount of change within the organization.
There can be several internal or external factors that can restrict or constraint managers from
brining about change or managing change meritoriously (Lewis, Cantore & Passmore, 2016).
However, it is imperative that organizations can manage change effectively in order to sustain
in a highly competitive environment that exists today. This report highlights upon the
essentials of change management as well as several theories that have been incorporated
within the entire change management spectrum. The report also reflects upon the iconic case
study of IBM’s Louis Gerstner and his role as a change agent behind turning around IBM
towards growth and development through efficient change management.
Calm waters and White water rapids
There are two metaphors which are frequently used to explain the change management
phenomenon in an organization setup. ‘Calm Waters’ metaphors is actually one of the oldest
and yet widely used metaphor in the entire gamut of change management. This metaphor
envisions organization as an extremely large ship which crosses a calm sea and in the process
occasionally facing a storm. The finest manner to illustrate this metaphor is through Kurt
Lewin’s 3 step description of change processes within an organization. The three steps are
fairly simple.
1. The first step involves accepting the need for the change and unfreezing the status quo
that currently exists.