Organizational Behaviour: Resistance to Change, Communication Barriers, and Power Dynamics

This article discusses the reasons for employee resistance to change in an open-plan office, barriers to communication in a law firm, and power dynamics among partners and employees. It also suggests ways to overcome these challenges.

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1. a. Identify the reasons for employees resisting the change to an open-plan office
approach.
The employees resisted the idea of changing the open-plan office approach because first
of all, it was such an expensive task in building the separate walls within the office premises.
The employees suggest that since the firm is firm growing firm, the funds used in dividing the
office to a closed office layout could be used in another development project of the office
(Smollan and Sayers, J2009 p.435). Through the email, they suggest that the funds to be used in
closed office set can be utilized for the purpose of buying more comfortable furniture for the
smooth operation of the office. In addition, they said that an open office layout would create a
teamwork atmosphere where employees are able to work from side to side and even
communicate with their colleagues just from one end to another. This will create a smooth
working environment since everyone will be almost working in the same running environments
and consultations will be made easier than just going to the closed office layout (Smollan, 2015
p.301).
The employees supported the fact that the open office layout could bring more of
creativity since the members will be the inability to consult one another for in case of an issue.
Sharing of ideas in an open office layout could be easy and every member will be open to
consulting from their colleagues for in case there is an issue that arises. Moreover, an open
office will create a socialization environment where all members will be interacting and sharing
the ideas. This layout brings about more teamwork and comfortable environments where all
members feel comfortable communicating sharing as well working together as a team (Smollan,
2017 p.282). The employees knew the fact that closed office will not bring them together
actually it will be individual dealing with activities and fewer interactions will be emphasized.

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There they disagreed with the idea of bringing out the closed office but supported an open layout
plan.
b. Explain what the partners might have done better to have minimized the resistance.
For the purpose of minimizing the cases of the resistance, the partners could seek ways
through which they could settle the interest of every employee. Looking at the case where some
of the employees complained about phone calls with their boyfriends, it is very true that some of
the employees will not be so comfortable calling their boyfriends while others are listening. In
normal circumstances, no one will like any other person to listen to what one talks with a
boyfriend or a girlfriend (Smollan, 2013 p.725). The staff members could have made everything
equal. Instead of giving the privilege to high ranked officials to be in closed office layout, it
could be an optional plan. They could come up with an idea that the office is categorized in two
ways open office layout and closed plan layout. In this case, the partners could give it a freedom
that anybody who is willing to work in an open setting is free to do that. This way for those who
are willing for the socialization and sharing of the ideas would be fit for the same. They could
have taken the position and progress with their comfort zone. Those who wish to work in closed
offices for their own confidential; they could be free for the same. This would allow them to do
their confidential things like calling their boyfriends without interruptions. The calls in the
meeting rooms could be advanced where the room is supposed to have another room for the
urgent calls to minimize the complaints from others members about lack of communication
confident in the meetings rooms (Smollan, Sayers, 2010 p.28). In the case of high ranked staff
lunching in the expense of others while others allowed to lunch in the expensive shops, there
could be an equal serving of all members with food in a special dining room for the purpose of
equalization of the members. It does not matter even if it will be at expense of all members

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wishing to have dinner in the office settings. If the partners could emphasize a sort of freedom
for the needs of the employees, it could be a more important thing because there would be less
complains.
2. a. Analyze the barriers to communication (‘noise’) that appear to exist in the law firm.
In the law firm, there is a need for private communications. The lawyers sometimes need
to communicate with their clients in a private manner. In this, it will be a communication barrier
in a case whereby the lawyers have no comfortable environment for communication with their
client. The office where it opens setting is emphasized in a law firm; the private communication
becomes a big challenge (Smollan, 2014 p.794). The lawyers and client would like their
information to be kept confidential without spread to other unauthorized personnel. In this case,
many members in this open office settings will be in consultations and interactions which in
most time leads to high level of noise within the working place. If there will be any lawyers who
will need private communication with their client or even other lawyers concerning a
confidential matter it will be so difficult (Smollan, 2016p.215).
Noise from other members who could be in their discussion will interrupt their
communication or even a member or more could get the information concerning the lawyer’s
communication and lure the case. In the meeting areas, communication barriers are more
effective. In this zone, there will be a confidential communication between parties (Smollan and
Pio, 2017 p.56). The lawyers find it so difficult to receive or make calls in the meeting rooms
simply because of noise from discussion members as well as fear for information and secrets
expose to other members. In this case, you find that many of the lawyers get had time holding the
calls which could be urgent at the moment. The law firm is expected to have a high level of

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confidentially of information. Noise from members is expected to be minimal. Clients presenting
their case may find it difficult to do it in open office where everyone is listening or making some
communications and consultations among themselves and there for these being barriers for
communication in a law firm.
b. Discuss how they could be overcome.
To overcome the issue leading to noise communication barriers there could be set rules
and regulation on communication basis in the office setting. First of all, the top staff members
would come up with the policy on noise making. No member is supposed to cause an
interrupting environment for other members in the office setting by creating unnecessary talks
and social issues like discussing the games. Talking of the sports within the law firm should be a
serious offense. As it is put in the case study law firm not a joking firm but a serious one.
Everyone should be busy dealing with his or her daily routine. There firm should set some
private communication rooms where the confidential communications could be made. This will
give Lawyers good time to have communication with their clients in the more confidential way
(Giæver and Smollan, 2015 p.105). In the sector of open office, the members should be
monitored to make sure that they are doing what entails their business. The consultation and
communication within the members should be of low tone to make sure that there is no
unnecessary noise from the team members. Focusing the case in the meeting rooms, the partners
are supported to have set the private rooms for communication of any private calls. The rooms
are supposed to be in a separate from the meeting rooms to make sure that there is no noise
interruption from the area. Communication barriers can be minimized by constructing another
consultation room separated from the other working offices where the clients are able and
allowed to present their case to their respective lawyers without any form of noise interruption

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(Smollan, 2009). All the communication between and among the members within the office
should be geared towards the roles of the company. This will minimize the cases of the noise in
the firm since all members will work towards the accomplishment of their goals and strategies
for the firm.
3. a. Discuss the sources of power the partners and others appear to have and the impact
this may have on other employees.
Owen Cheetham andJack Wynne believes that being the founder of the firm many
years ago, they have power over other members in the firm. They think and believe that they
know everything that concerns the firm and therefore every other member is supposed to be
below their rank. Owen says directly that they are not equal from other people meaning they had
power over the firm planning (Smollan and Parry, 2011 p.435). The two top-ranking staffs
consider themselves as special in the firm. This is seen clearly in the case whereby they have
lunch at the expense of others in the firm. They visit upmarket restaurants where they have their
lunch discussion the progress of the company. Owens is not happy with the news from the memo
about the equality of the people within the firm. He even calls them fake news in the memo and
says, of course, they are not in the same rank in the firm. By this, he believes that everyone in the
firm should recognize them as the most powerful and high ranked founder of the firm. The
notion created by the two partners in the firm creates a discomfort and uncomfortable conditions
for the members within the firm.
Some of the members in the firm find it a sort of discrimination from the Owen
Cheetham andJack Wynne (Smollan, 2012. p. 175). Some of the employees have lost their status
in the office and think that the two “fat pigs” have underpinned their responsibilities in the firm.

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Through this, most of the employees in the firm found that the online booking system is not in a
position to work properly. The feeling of having the notion that there are some members who
are less powered than you have ruined the progress of the firm and some of the employees find it
so difficult to perform their activities in the most convenient way. Other employees will feel less
important the firm following the fact in some of the things are discriminated for instance the top-
ranked staff takes their lunch in upmarket restaurants and employees are allowed to eat from the
shops near the firm which are very expensive. This form of discrimination leads to poor
performance of the firm simply because there is no motivation within the workers.
b. What influence tactics have been used by some of the partners and employees and how
effective might they have been?
Some other partners, for instance, Owens is seen to be worried about the progress of the
firm and each time tries to convince the employees and other staff his direction is right. He goes
ahead to get the reviews from the kitchen staff regarding the Rugby games (Smollan, 2011
p.828). He is not happy with the response from the kitchen workers that they do not involve in
the game. Actually what he is trying to get here not just knowing more rugby game but it is a
kind of set up to know whether the kitchen workers focus on their duties or just watching the
game. He is very rude in his communication tactics to make sure everybody bow down on him.
He is not willing to have anybody else voice above him that is why he uses the tactics of being so
harsh and rude in his communication. To make sure that everyone will live his rank of classes he
rudely says that they are not equal and in any case, they will not be equal. These are the
dictatorship tactics used by some of the leaders to overrule other in any given firm (Kark
Smollan, 201 p.399). They have introduced the fine on the employees driving while a drug for
the purpose of generating the funds. Owens just fined the way possible to raise the funds from

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the firm to enroll for his MBA fees. The impacts of tactics used by some partners have some
negative impact on the progress of the law. Some of the employees find it so had to work under
such environment. The firm is not performing well because the needs of the employees are not
catered for. They feel discriminated and lack a sense of participants in the firm. This has
impacted to less trust between the partners and employees in the firm. The employees believe
that they are overruled by their partners.

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References
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