Management of Change and Organization Development

MANAGEMENT OF CHANGE AND ORGANIZATION DEVELOPMENT
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Management of change and organization development
Student’s name
Institution affiliation

MANAGEMENT OF CHANGE AND ORGANIZATION DEVELOPMENT
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The main objective of every organization is to succeed in their operations and offer quality
services to their clients. However, for this to be successful, they ought to make significant
changes that will revolutionize the whole organization. There are important activities that can
contribute to effective change in the organization (Worley, 2014). The stated activities can be
categorized into five major groups which include motivating factor, vision factor, political
factors, managing factors and momentum sustaining factors. All of the above are key for success
in any organization.
Areas of weakness
In the case study, areas of weakness can be depicted extracted clearly. It is common knowledge
that before starting any business or initiating any new program, background information is key.
However, when Paul Zahra was named the C.E.O of David Jones company, he immediately
opened an online stores where individuals would shop from their comfort zones. Although it was
a brilliant idea to initiate, he had no knowledge on how the business operated. That’s why he
ended up making huge loses three years down the line. Another weakness that can be identified
is lack of patience and expectation of instant results. Being an experienced CEO with 29 years of
exposure, Zahra failed to show patience in the newly established online platform that’s why after
the business failed to bring in the amount he expected he closed it. Unlike his competitors who
persisted in the business.
Another huge weakness that David Jones were facing is that they were still employing traditional
methods of business models yet the retail business is changing drastically. David jones focused
on traditional customer through discounting and promotion yet they had lost sight of other
growing market that have spending power.

MANAGEMENT OF CHANGE AND ORGANIZATION DEVELOPMENT
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Challenges in the business
The main challenge Zahra faced in his new working environment is adapting to the new working
environment in an organization. The challenge is there worldwide and many organizations find it
difficult to adapt in a new working environment. For Mr. Zahra working in an environment
where the business was run with apps, iPod’s and smart phones was a huge challenge. Therefore
to success and prosper in the business, online presence was a vital tool to use.
Intervention strategies
Following the growing target market, David jones aims at handling their challenges and adapt to
the new environment. Therefore, David jones aims at embracing the strategic scope of the
smaller stores to accommodate developing consumer sentiments. The first options David jones
opted to take was to reduce space in lesser performing categories such as children ware and
home wares. They opted to venture in better segments such as Fashion and beauty. The need of
change was because of increased taste and demand in the mentioned fields.
Strategies
To rescue the organization, Zahra proposed three long time approach. Although the idea would
see investment of $80 million, the returns would be great and they would elevate the company’s
net worth. He proposed to open 6 small stores in strategic locations. His main intention was to be
targeted with th customer and still offer what they wanted.
He also focused on the company’s core strength. That is maintaining the market position as
leaders in fashion department that support the Australian designers.