Leading Change: Strategies, Barriers & Leadership Decision Making

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of understanding and leading change within an organization, focusing on Marks and Spencer as a case study. It begins by comparing how change can impact a company's strategies and practices, particularly in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, highlighting the drivers of change and their influence on organizational behavior. The report then evaluates how barriers to change can influence leadership decision-making, utilizing Force-field Theory to identify driving and resisting forces. Furthermore, it explores the application of various leadership approaches to change initiatives and suggests methods, such as the PDCA cycle, for reducing negative impacts on business practices. The analysis covers both internal and external changes, their effects on leadership, team dynamics, and individual behavior, and emphasizes the importance of effective communication and training in managing change. The document concludes by summarizing key findings and recommendations for successfully navigating organizational change.

Understanding and
Leading Change

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
Comparison of ways in which change could impact company's strategies as well as practices. 1
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................4
Evaluation of influence which drivers of change could have on organisational behaviour........4
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................6
Identification of how barriers to change influence leadership decision making of company.....6
Force-field Theory: ....................................................................................................................6
TASK 4............................................................................................................................................8
Application of range of leadership approaches to change initiatives. ........................................8
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................10
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................12

INTRODUCTION
Change is referred to a method that leads in generating positive as well as negative
surroundings in business. In general it could be considered to be challenges for business that
could influence their business operations as well as functioning. As for having growth and
improvement in companies it becomes necessary for company to deal and accept with changes in
company effectively (Marques and Mont’Alverne, 2021). By analysing change as well as
accepting it according to needs it could allow them to be more competitive and improve their
performance in competitive surroundings. This report is based on understanding leading and
change of Marks and Spencer which is a British multinational retail company which deals in
selling clothing, home products as well as food products along with mostly products from their
own labels (Ahmad and Anderson, 2021). This report consists of a detailed analysis explanation
of various drivers as well as impact of change which could influence leadership, team as well as
behaviour of individuals. Along with it involves various steps which could be followed to
overcome negative impacts of changes as well as barriers of changes with how they could
influence leadership and decision making. It includes different leadership approaches for
handling with changes followed by its conclusion.
MAIN BODY
TASK 1
Comparison of ways in which change could impact company's strategies as well as
practices.
Company change is referred to be a method as well as action that could lead company for
having main changes and alterations in relation to their culture, infrastructure, advancement in
technology as well as various kinds of changes in its internal method (Allen and Ibrahim, 2021).
By carrying up any type of change in company it could directly lead to create an influence on
strategies as well as practices of company for effective implementation of change which
company has to modify strategies as well as perform practices as per needs. Marks and Spencer
is one of effective retail company of UK that offers services across global limits as well as they
are offering quality services for their customers for satisfying their requirements and desires.
Marks and Spencer has recently announced a few changes according to customers feedbacks in
their retail stores for keeping things simple and safe. As present Covid-19 pandemic has lead
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company to implement changes to keep their customers safe as well as positively responded
towards changes. The major three changes consists opening of more checkouts to making
customers trip easier, making health care sector entry as a priority as well as making priority
shopping for vulnerable consumers. These changes has directly influenced strategies as well as
practices of company. Along with there technological as well as operational changes in
Sainsbury that is also a retail company. There is a use of change in both company that has
influence their strategy as well as practices which are as follows:
Marks and Spencer Changes: In Marks and Spencer, company has carried various changes to manner of
working due to arise of Covid-19 pandemic. For overcoming situation of pandemic
Marks and Spencer has to carry up change of beginning up opening checkout for
reducing waiting of customers as well as make their shopping convenient and easier
(Cumming, 2021). This change could company to attract high number of customers as
well as make their shopping trip more easy and smooth. Along with their new outlets are
carrying preventive screens which are being installed for ensuring safety and security of
company. Another change that has implemented by Marks and Spencer is offering health
care services as priority entry as well as emergency facilities are carried for fulfilling
social responsibility towards them. In order to offer emergency facilities new as well as
advance technology has been adopted by the company. Drivers of change: As major driving aspects of change in this situation are external
factors. As because of rise in present Covid-19 case Marks and Spencer has established
open checkout so that customers don't have a requirement to travel more as well as they
could purchase form their nearest stores present. This technological change has helped
company to ensure that safety of customer's through screening them at store's entrance.
Along with present Covid 19 has forced company to implement new changes in order to
continue to perform out their activities. In this case the main driver of change has been
social aspect that has lead to technology changes as well as in the company Impact on strategy: Technological change has created a direct influence in business
strategy of Marks and Spencer for carrying up change of installing new preventive
screens at their new stores with proper and effective strategy to carry so by company
(Livingston, 2021). The proper strategy helped the company to successfully carry out
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their work. As implementing change could also lead to create a direct influence on
business strategy of Marks and Spencer. As strategy of business has also been shifted
towards ensuring safety as well as security of their customer's priority. Business strategy
of company ensures that health care is provided with top most priority as well as offered
quality services.
 Impact on practices: As because of present change, business practices of Marks and
Spencer are also being affected. Along with use of technology allowed them to carry
their business practices effectively as well as provide effective experience to their
customers (Gregory, Nnawulezi and Sullivan, 2021). It has been analysed that
implementation of technology has also allowed Marks and Spencer to improvise their
business practices as well. For offering priority services to health care customers
practices of business has also changed, as employees has to work towards offering more
advance services to their priority customers for effectiveness.
Sainsbury Changes: In situation of Sainsbury it has evaluated that for dealing effectively with
present Covid-19 pandemic Marks and Spencer has implemented new changes in relation
to technology. Company has used new technology for offering online services to their
customer's smoothly as well as improve their security as well as safety while maintaining
social distancing. Along with economic slowdown another which is implemented in
Marks and Spencer involves cutting across 3500 jobs in Argos stores. Drivers of change: As major driving aspect of change in this situation is carried with
external aspects that has leaded to change in technology aspect of company. It has amid
Covid-19, technological change has allowed company to carry their business operations
effectively. Along with another major driving force is economical change in surroundings
because of present coronavirus pandemic situation. As by maintaining economic stability
in business markets Sainsbury has decided to cut down about 3500 jobs. Impact on strategy: As company change has directly influence business strategy of
Sainsbury. As business strategy has to be modified for performing online facilities
effectively without having any issues (Redmond and Lyons, 2021). Along with this
change has also directly influence strategy of Sainsbury, as they have to implement
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strategy for analysing how to deal and overcome economic instability effectively by
implementing proper change at workplace.
 Impact on practices: In situation of Sainsbury, because of change business practices of
company are directly influenced. Implementation of technology has allowed company to
perform online services practices effectively as well as other related business practices.
New implemented change has influenced business practices as company has to manage
effectively their business practices after economic instability.
TASK 2
Evaluation of influence which drivers of change could have on organisational behaviour.
There are various internal and external change which could leads to influence
productivity as well as profitability of business. As change could from internal aspect or it could
be from external aspects that influences leadership, team as well as behaviour of individuals
(López‐Gay, Cocola‐Gant and Russo, 2021). In relation to Marks and Spencer different internal
and external drivers of change which could impact leadership, individual behaviour as well as
team are as follows:
Methods for reducing negative impacts:
There are different ways which could be implemented by companies for minimising a
negative impact on their business practices. In accordance with Marks and Spencer, PDCA cycle
is as follows:
Change Type Impact on
leadership
Impact in
team
Impact on
individual
behaviour
Ways to
minimise
negative
impact
Social External This change
could influence
behaviour of
leaders. For
having
effectively
working
For carrying up
change in
Marks and
Spencer team
they are require
to carry their
work
This change
could also lead
to influence
behaviour of
individual. As
individual
requires to
In order to
reduce social
impact of
these changes
proper
strategy
requires to be
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towards
offering
priority
facilities to
healthcare
sector. Leaders
requires to train
their employees
as per
requirement.
collaboratively.
This could
influence
behaviour of
team members
of accepting
new changes as
well as
working
collaboratively
according to
requirement.
provide
facilities to
health care
sector on
basis of priority
effectively.
used by the
management.
Along with
they could
also carry
proper
analysis of
change
requirement
which is to be
done.
Technological Internal Any type of
technological
change in
company that
directly
influence
behaviours of
leaders, as they
ensures that
proper training
is offered to
employees so
that they could
easily work on
technologies
which are used
This change
could influence
behaviour of
team. As
getting
adjusted to new
change is not
an easy option
for any staff
member
(Frutos,
Gavotte and
Devaux,
2021). Team
requires to
evaluate
changes
through proper
coordination.
Company has
started their
business in
offering online
services as well
as online
screen
prevention
services for
their customers
. Individual
behaviour
could be
influenced as
they have to
work towards
technological
change as well
as analyse
For reducing
negative
impact of
technological
change Marks
and Spencer
requires to
ensure that
training is
provided to
employees to
having
smooth
dealing with
change. Along
with there
could be
proper
communicatio
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As work
requires to be
performed
towards
implemented
changes.
change. n in
management
and
understanding
employees
requirement
of change as
well as how it
could be used.
PDCA Cycle: It is one of most important tool that could be implemented by companies
for maintaining a constant enhancement in business practices and in products. It generally stands
for plan, do, check as well as act are as follows: Plan: It is said to be first as well as foremost phase which is carried is planning. In Marks
and Spencer, company requires to make effective plans that are related to new change
needs which are to be used in company (Bullock and Rozell, 2021). There is appropriate
planning which is related to use of technology change which requires to be performed. Do: In this phase Marks and Spencer requires to develop effective plan that are related to
change which could lead to improvement in business and satisfying customers as well as
their requirements to be analysed on regular basis. Check: This phase allows Marks and Spencer to carry review of all changes on regular
basis., and if there is any need for enhancement it is performed accordingly.
 Act: It is last phase in which change is carried in whole company for having further
improvement as well as growth in business practices.
TASK 3
Identification of how barriers to change influence leadership decision making of company.
Force-field Theory:
This is the important aspect that needs to be considered by the organisation that assists
determining the forces which drives the changes as well as the factors that resist the changes
appropriately. This generally defines the 2 forms of forces that are driving factors that leads to
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the development of positive changes as well as the restraining factor that leads to the
introduction of hurdles to changes. In case of Marks & Spencer different changes has been
executed by the business so to improve their performance as well as effective deal with the
present conditions. The initial change is the opening of fresh checkouts as well as launching
protective screens at the checkouts so to ensure the security of customers. The next change being
implemented by business comprises of the developing the entry for NHS consumers of the
business (Kossak, 2021). Marks & Spencer has also executed the advance technology so to
provide quality services to its buyers. Different steps has been taken by the company to ensure
the security of their consumers as well as enhance their performance. Such changes also
permitted business to attain competitive edge at the market too.
The forces that drive the changes as well as which resist for Marks & Spencer is
discussed below:
Drivers and barriers Competitive advantage: Application of technology to meet with the changes would
permit the Marks& Spencer to attain competitive edge in the market. This can assist
business to have effective as well as smooth conduct of their operations as well as
ensuring the safety & security of their customers. This will eventually lead to attainment
of competitive advantage in the market. Time consuming: This factor would lead to the development of barriers in the change
with the time, executing the technology will consume huge time of the business.
Instalment of such the protective screens at the checkouts would take time and delay the
process for the company. Enhancing brand image: As implementation of technology in order to offer preventive
screens at their new checkout system that helps company to create customer's loyalty in
company (Hannah, 2021). This change will lead to improving brand image of Marks and
Spencer. This will work as the driving force for company improvising brand image of
company and their profitability.
 Complexity: Also factors that could lead to the development of barriers in the change will
be complex of the change. When the change which is needed to be executed is complex
& would lead to barrier for the business. In relation to Marks & Spencer, executing the
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technology change within the organisations is a tedious procedure and needs to be
implemented properly.
In respect to minimise the obstacles to the change for the company, Marks & Spencer is
required to ensure the effective planning prior to the implementation of the change along with
the effective strategies are also needed to be developed to accomplish the set target on time. The
execution of the technology like protective screen at the company's checkouts as well as acting
towards the NHS community would permit business to attain higher competitive edge in the
market as well as attainment of their strategic goals (Ernst and Jensen Schleiter, 2021). Such
flawless execution of change would permit the business to improve their growth as well as
development.
TASK 4
Application of range of leadership approaches to change initiatives.
Intended change in company:
Marks and Spencer is one of established retail company which having effective stores
across globe. As for continuing for satisfying requirements of their targetted customers company
has used different technological changes like using mode of online shopping, various services to
resolve queries of their customers and e commerce services. In present situation with Covid-19
pandemic company has installed various protective screens at their new checkout places
efficiently. Along with company has also began a new initiative of offering health care offerings
a their priority services. As a result these changes lets company to create competitive benefit for
them in corporate markets.
Reasons for having change: Achieving competitive benefit: It is essential for company to carry some unique as well
as creative concepts which variates from its competitors in marketplace. It could help
Marks and Spencer to achieve competitive advantage in markets as well as deal with
their rival company in a proper manner. It also brings changes which are majorly related
to shopping of various customers as well as emergency facilities for health care which is
a creative decision made by higher authorities of company that could help in developing
a positive mindset of customers towards company as well as it also assist in achieving
competitive edge over competitors.
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 High profit margins: It is said to be one of main reason of change that is a vital source
of surviving in business markets. Along with this it has been evaluated that carrying up
change could help Marks and Spencer to attract high number of customers as well as
develop a strong customer loyalty that carries a positive impact on revenue along with
profitability of company (Devaraj and Patel, 2021). Along with it also assists Marks and
Spencer for improving their market share as well as growth in a smooth way.
 Fulfils needs of customers: One of reason for implementing change is to handle as well
as fulfil changing needs of customers which is essential for maintaining performance as
well as retain in competitive markets. Mark and Spencer has develop various checkouts
so that waiting time of customers for billing could be less as well as their shopping could
be made easy. It could help in attracting high number of customers as well as generate
their loyalty that gives a positive impact on performance as well as profitability of
company.
Kurt Lewin's change model:
Lewin's change states that individuals as well as company are influenced by restraining
aspects as well as driving aspects that could cause change to happen (Boutilier, 2021). It consists
three phases of changes that are explained in relation to Marks and Spencer are as follows: Unfreezing: This stage is starting and first stage in performing change. It consists of
making employees and staff members of company aware about change as well as
motivates them to accept change in order to carry practices that are related to it in a
systematic manner. Change: This stage is defined to be actual execution of change which consists of
effective communication, planning as well as encouragement for stating that change is
important (Oduor and Oinas-Kukkonen, 2021). It has evaluated that this phase of change
model consists of high risk due to presence of fears or uncertainties of staff members for
adopting change method. In accordance with Marks and Spencer, company's managers
ensures that its all roles as well as responsibilities are to be related to change which is
properly communicated to their employees so that no discrepancies as well as barriers
could be arise while carrying up change. Along with that Marks and Spencer motivates
their employees on regular basis due to which they could accept change as well as focus
of execution of activities which are related to change.
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 Refreezing: This phase is last stage of Lewin's change model in which employees move
towards stable level as well as working effectively on change. In accordance with Marks
and Spencer it could provide a positive reinforcement as well as appraisal to its staff
members that could help them in having effective transformation of new ways
of working (Sheng and Wang, 2021). Along with that it ensures that needs of their
employees are to be fulfilled appropriately as it could help their employees to give their
full potential for accomplishment of their goals within a particular point of time.
Ways to implement technological change: Present impact on company: There are different technological changes that are used in
Marks and Spencer at various level like offering preventive screens at their stores. It
could help company in making new checkouts for being more safe and secure during
pandemic situation. It also offerings priority services to health care sectors for carrying
their social responsibilities as well as generate competitive advantage in markets.
 Desired impact: There is effective implementation of technological change that could
allow company to improve their performance as well as create competitive benefit in long
term. Along with it also allows them in carrying their practices efficiently (Bury,
Prokudin and Vladimirov, 2021).
CONCLUSION
It has been concluded from above report that company change is said to be important
method that could lead business practices to have growth as well as success. Along with it
improve competitive benefit in marketplace. It has evaluated that constant changing
surroundings, analysing as well as accepting change could be said to be a success aspect for
Marks and Spencer. By performing this report it has been evaluated that organisational change
could directly influence strategy of company as well as practices along with it identifies different
internal and external forces that could influence leadership, team as well as behaviour of
individual which is performed by PESTLE and SWOT analysis. Along with that force field
analysis is performed for evaluating various forces that resists as well as support company
changes in company that could allows company to reduce barriers of changes effectively. In
summation it has identified that it is important to have change in company for sustaining in
markets.
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