Organizational Behavior: Communication and Resistance to Change in a Law Firm

Running head: Organizational behavior
Organizational behavior
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Organizational behavior
Table of Contents
Introduction.................................................................................................................................................3
Answer 1.....................................................................................................................................................3
A. Reasons for employees resisting the change...........................................................................................3
B.What the partners might have done to minimize the resistance................................................................4
Answer 2.....................................................................................................................................................5
A.Barriers to communication.......................................................................................................................5
B.How they could be overcome or handle...................................................................................................6
Answer 3......................................................................................................................................................7
A.Sources of power the partners and their impact.......................................................................................7
B.Influencing tactics or strategies initiated by the employees and partners.................................................8
Conclusion...................................................................................................................................................9
References.................................................................................................................................................10
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Organizational behavior
Introduction
The primary motive of this case study is to outline and discuss about the communication and
resistance to change issues which are being faced by the two partners while functioning. The
paper outlines that how Cheethnam and Wyame could able to shift office at new place. Various
tactics and strategies that used by the partners have been elaborated below.
Answer 1
A. Reasons for employees resisting the change
Resistance to change is the action or step taken by the employee or groups when they perceive
various managerial changes while functioning globally. Resistance to change put direct impact
on the performance and productivity of the workers and organization as well. The new partners
have started new business to maximize and enhance the profitability and outcomes (Blin and
Munro 2008). The new partners further started to evaluate and analyze the worker’s reaction to
their new open plan office shift. There were several people who were resisting to adopt new open
plan office. At the same time, most of people were adopting and welcoming the new managerial
change in their organization. There are various reasons due to which company has to bear ample
of losses and issues globally (Allison and Martiny 2008). Due to many personal life issues, there
were many people who are unable to accept the changes within the organization and some of the
people refusing these changes were complaining professional and major concerns and challenges
(Crozier et al 2008). In the initial time, senior managers or partners were first who complaining
about their new office sitting and they further demanding for a separate space in the office. There
are various reasons for employees resisting the change to an open plan office approach which has
been discussed below.
 Poor communication is one of the significant reasons that is why employee resist the
change for an open plan office approach in the organization. Generally, after a meeting
people had stayed in one of the meeting rooms to talk and discuss about their
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Organizational behavior
employment or jobs. Due to new office plan approach, the employees are unable to stay
in the conference and meetings rooms.
 Along with this, the employers are unable to provide proper and enough space to the
workers in the workplace. It may affect the working capacity and effectiveness within the
organization. Due to lack of proper space, they could fail to spend time together during
launch and tea time (Chenoweth and Cunningham 2013).
 Aside this, the newly opened office is far from the market so people are unable to go in
the market easily. The other employee says that it is very expensive as compared to
previous plan. That means, there is a less connectivity from the global market. In
addition, the employees cannot take calls in the meeting rooms due to this new office
plan. Furthermore, the people cannot see outside while working and functioning in the
office (Bouckenooghe 2010).
 Privacy issues also are dealt while setting new office plan along with this, the employers
are facing various complexities while online bookings of conference and meeting rooms
for client and guests meetings within the organization. Moreover, many advocates have
complained that they usually need to discuss private matter and issues with guests or
clients over the phone and are failed to take the calls in meeting rooms (Alvesson and
Sveningsson 2015).
B.What the partners might have done to minimize the resistance
Cheetham and Wayme are operating and managing a law firm as they trying to handle and
resolve the various issues which are being faced by them. They have decided to implement new
open plan office shift to run the business activities successfully. The partners have used various
strategies to resolve and overcome these issues and challenges, some of the efforts that might
have done by Cheetham and Wayme have been discussed below.
 Cheetham and Wayme appoint young executives to render a separate private place or
space for the personal use and meetings. This place will further help to provide a place
where people can talk and spend some time at the workplace. After a meeting, a few of
the paralegal workers can stay in this private or separate room. This effort will help the
two partners for reducing and eliminating the resisting to change issue. The new private
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