Leading and Managing Change: BP's Response to COVID-19 and Change

This report examines the impact of COVID-19 on British Petroleum (BP) and its change management strategies. It provides an overview of the pandemic's effects on the oil and gas industry, including price fluctuations and market challenges. The report discusses both planned and unplanned approaches to change, highlighting their respective strengths and weaknesses. It then delves into Kurt Lewin's change model (Unfreeze, Change, Refreeze) and its application to BP's situation. Furthermore, the report analyzes the role of Human Resources (HR) in the change process, addressing resistance to change and problems in execution. Challenges such as funding, mental health and well-being, remote work management, and employee communication are also discussed. The report concludes by summarizing key findings and implications for BP's future.

Leading and Managing Change

Contents
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY.............................................................................................................1
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
SECTION 1.....................................................................................................................................1
Overview of COVID along with its current challenges and opportunities..................................1
Concept of Planned and unplanned approach along with their strengths and weaknesses.........4
SECTION 2.....................................................................................................................................5
Discuss change model..................................................................................................................5
SECTION 3.....................................................................................................................................6
Role of HR in change process and explain resistance to change, problems in execution of
change process.............................................................................................................................6
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Change is defined as the ongoing practices into business atmospheres through well known
business scenario in respect of determining both external as well as internal business atmosphere
that emphasised key affects upon entity’s functioning. As currently the COVID-19 occurs so
various changes the firm have to perform for performing the operations effectively and
efficiently (Akka and Khaber, 2020). Additionally, COVID-19 has essential affects upon the oil
and gas prices. The war of oil prices is proving to be pronged crisis for oil, gas and chemical
firms such as British Petroleum. So, they have to goes through various changes and also several
opportunities may occurs due to this they have to perform the changes into their operations,
practices and others. In addition to this, Lewin’s change model is applied which firm to conduct
the changes in effective and efficient way.
INTRODUCTION
Change is considered as the major phenomenon which occurs into various manners through
undertaking the affect upon several circumstances. For instance, change is also essential as well
as ongoing practices into business atmospheres through well known business scenario in respect
of determining both external as well as internal business atmosphere that emphasised key affects
upon entity’s functioning. The organisations which is undertaken for this report is BRITISH
PETROLEUM, it is undertaken as one of the well known oil and gas organisation having
headquarters in England, United Kingdom. This firm deals into various product line such as
petroleum as well as natural gas and others. The topics which are going to be discussed in this
report are description about changes that occurs due to economical climate as well as appropriate
approaches for dealing with change. Moreover, evaluation related to how human resource tends
to support various approaches with assistance of business tactics as well as affect of external
factors. Apart from this, several challenges as well as strategic approaches that are considered to
deal with effective resistance to change are also discussed in this report.
SECTION 1
Overview of COVID along with its current challenges and opportunities.
Overview of COVID-19
This is undertaken as the corona viruses. There are a huge family of viruses few of that
cause illness into people as well as others which circulate among mammals as well as birds.
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Moreover, this is considered as illness that is caused through novel corona virus new called
severe acute respiratory syndrome. It is a kind of infectious disease which is caused through
newly discovered corona virus (Boehe, 2020). Along with this, COVID-19 has essential affects
upon the oil and gas prices. The war of oil prices is proving to be pronged crisis for oil, gas and
chemical firms. Prices of oil are drop down because of failed agreement upon production cuts as
well as required for chemicals as well as refined products goes slower fro industries slowdowns
as well as travel boundation also raise into the international pandemic.
Apart from this, the COVID-19 crisis has been transforming the structure of respective sector:
With oil & gas industry is recently locked into oversupply of cycle, lower prices as well as
volatility. Also, the economical down fall is developed through pandemic crisis and likely to deal
with huge blow to various firms. Additionally, the oil & gas sector is likely to be faced with
prolonged substantially minimised the demand. For lowering down the economical activities sa
well as developing pressures to utilise greener sources of energy. Likewise, respective sector
should also grapple with the problems of oversupply withier because of burgeoning volumes of
oils from US shale or struggle for market shares among OPEC as well as Russia.
There are various opportunities as well as challenges faced by British petroleum that is
going to be mentioned below:
 Funding It is determined as main opportunity which is taken by organisation from
investor in order to conduct their task and operation of business organisation in an
appropriate manner. In context of British petroleum, it is profitable for them to take fund
from financer in order to invest or expand their business in an appropriate manner.
 Manpower Furthermore, it is the other opportunity which is grab by organisation during
particle phase of time period. Due to covid-19, the rate of wages will decrease that help in
decreasing the cost for company which is measure opportunity for organisation during
particular phase of time period (Crowley and Jordan, 2020).
In addition to various opportunities, there are some challenges which are faced by the
organisation that is going to be mentioned below:
There are various challenges which is faced by the manager of company due to occurrence of
covid-19 in country that is going to be mentioned below:
 Mental health and well-being this is the biggest issue or challenges which are faced by the
manager of British petroleum to have mental health as well as well being of subordinate of
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organisation during particular phase of time period. It is necessary for a company to provide
safety as well as health benefits to subordinate in order to overcome from a different kind of
health issue. But due to covid-19, it is not easy for manager of company to take care of their
employees that is the biggest challenge which is faced by employees during particular phase
of time period. Therefore, the manager focuses on tackling this kind of issue that is faces by
manager during particular phase of time period.
 Managing remote work the manager of organisation manage remote work in an
appropriate manner and they also focuses on managing remote work during particular phase
of time period. Bur after covid-19 it is not easy for HR manager to manage remote work that
decreases productivity level of company during the period of time.
 Employee communication is the other challenges which are faced by the manager of
organisation during particular phase of time period. The covid-19 crisis make the HR
professional do not keep tools and techniques of remote area working that is suitable for
culture or not that impose negative impact on the company. It is also assess that it is a major
challenges faced by the manager of organisation which impose negative impact on
operations and functions of British petroleum during particular phase of time period.
 Uncertainty It arises due to increase in covid-19 that imposes negative impact on the
organisation. It is determined as major crisis which is faced by the manager of organisation
during particular phase of time period. Therefore, the British petroleum focuses on handle
these kinds of challenges in order to perform different task and functions in an appropriate
manner. Therefore, there are different kinds of challenges faced by manager of organisation
in future period of time, due to increase in Covid-19.
Apart from these, As change is essentially known as ongoing practices into business
atmospheres through well known business scenario in respect of determining both external as
well as internal business atmosphere that emphasised key affects upon entity’s functioning
(Deshler, 2020). Due to effective affects of COVID -19 upon business functioning as well as
whole economy, BRITISH PETROLEUM requires to focus upon appropriate analysis of United
Kingdom as well as its vital challenges which somehow becomes causes and also the drivers are
undertaking the potential gain towards United Kingdom economical condition. Moreover, this
tends for closing the doors for global marketplace as well as regional gaps of productivity. For
instances, the economical situation of UK become essential challenges in respect to address the
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longer shortfall and for productivity degree advanced economies are undertaken. In addition to
this, through considering the major evaluation of UK’ economical circumstances efficacious and
appropriate gaps are determine by undertaking various concepts of production. Beside this, the
outbreak of COVID-19 drives adverse affects upon entity’s operations and functioning as well as
it also tends for reflecting the low average productivity of United Kingdom by considering
particular industry that is associated with advanced economy.
Concept of Planned and unplanned approach along with their strengths and weaknesses.
Some approaches are utilised such as planned and comparative approaches. Unplanned
international approaches recommends that the United Kingdom level is relatively lower through
undertaking the Investment as well as Research & Development in context of performing
expenditures for the staff as well as considering lower productivity and competencies that is the
key cause of reduction into productivity (Gautam and Sharma, 2020). Additionally, this tends
towards putting essential affect upon business operation and also the BRITISH PETROLEUM’s
sales and revenues. In context of dealing with existent situation, important changes are
undertaken such as adopting advanced technology, contactless delivery while considering health
& safety factors and others. Also, for instance planned approaches are undertaken that is
efficacious procedures in respect of developing the whole towards attaining their predetermined
objectives for new guidance as well as also tends to undertake effective culture for intrinsic
framework, procedures as well as rewards that consider several aspects. So, through determining
the efficient changes as well as appropriate economical situations which have key affects upon
business operation of BRITISH PETROLEUM. For instances, they required to adopt planed
approaches so that it can able to overcome as well as deal with the changes that occurs during
pandemic situation.
Strength & weakness of planned as well as unplanned changes that is going to be
mentioned below:
The strength of planned and unplanned change is to understand need and effect of changes
within business organisation. Due to planned changes, it reduces time to implement changes
within British Petroleum. The changes increasing productivity level in future period of time.
There are various drawbacks of planned as well as unplanned which imposes negative impact
on operations of company. Due to alteration in laws, it is not possible for a company to bring
changes within business organisation that is the main drawback of company.
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SECTION 2
Discuss change model.
Kurt Lewin’s Change model.
This is undertaken as one of the vital planned approach that is helpful for entity through
considering the present situation that is COVID-19. As through it, important modifications are
determined in respect of this as well as whole journey as this tends to include several changes for
essential misunderstanding in context of attaining its objectives in order to obtain sustainability
with competitive marketplace (Harrison, 2020). So, it is the procedures that is effective for
respective entity to undertake changes as well as also tends to consider appropriate shape in
respect of transforming the overall procedures that are Unfreeze, Change and Refreeze. All these
phases of Kurt Lewin’s Change model in relation to present situation are discussed underneath:
 First stage: Unfreezing: It is determined as an initial position of company there is not
any kind of changes which is occur within business organisation during particular phase
of time period. Therefore, the environment of UK leads to innovative changes that must
be adopted by organisation. It is necessary for British petroleum to recruit individual
person in order to conduct various functioning of a company in an appropriate manner.
The main function of organisation is to manage workload as well as make appropriate
strategy in order to promote brand in more appropriate manner (Ivanova and Suchkova,
2020). Therefore, the company focuses on deal with high level of competition results in
dealing with different kind of functions in proper manner. In addition to this, in context
of British petroleum they focus is on bringing innovative changes in business
organisation in order to organise work in proper way. Due to covid-19, it is necessary for
bring changes in order to provide unique facilities to its customer and perform different
functions in an appropriate way.
 Second stage: Changing as it is to bring changes that are executed by company therefore
the recruiter focuses on filling the vacant position which is raised. Performance
improvement plan is maintained for present employees to increase skill and potentially in
order to make contributions in respect of acceptance of change. In addition to this, there is
an innovative strategy from different kind of alternative that is determined as a external
market and that is available from various attractive opportunity to influence customer.
Therefore, there are various strategy focuses on taking risk in order to increase or maintain
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revenue in future period of time. Due to increase in covid-19, it is necessary to bring
changes in business organisation for conducting appropriate activities during particular
phase of time period.
 Third stage: Freezing: this is determined as a stage where changes occurred for operation
of business organisation. There is no further changes is done from this is a source of this is
important is it results in whole plan become changes which imposes both positive and
negative impact on function and operations of company.
As through it, important modifications are determined in respect of this as well as whole journey
as this tends to include several changes for essential misunderstanding in context of attaining its
objectives in order to obtain sustainability with competitive marketplace (Laine, 2020).
SECTION 3
Role of HR in change process and explain resistance to change, problems in execution of change
process.
As human resource plays crucial role within entity and also the changes that occurs into the
change process. In respect of British Petroleum which get impacted through the COVID- 19 so
they have face various challenges due to which they perform some changes such as innovation
into their operations methods and others (Madlock, 2020). So, for instance, the role of respective
entity’ human resource is to formulate effective norm and policies which would assists them to
operates as well as provides their services during pandemic situation in effective and efficient
way. Moreover, the department of human resource have to ensures that staff are encourages for
undertaking the changes as well as perform appropriately during the changing process.
Challenges from change:
There are various challenges that may be faced through entity by HR department or
manager while it are planning to execute the changes with assistance of changes process. Some
challenges are described underneath:
Resistant to change: All staff that are performing into various functional areas is not
interested to adapt few changes. Moreover, as there is very much higher threats which is
associated with current surroundings that is COVID-19. So, there are various big challenges for
human resource manager as well as department for dealing with amount of resistance which is
shown through whole personnel.
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 Lack of staff reliability: There are few new tactics as well as plan which are associated
with enhanced pressure upon staff due to maximisation into accountabilities. So, there
should be appropriate potential which have to be develop for dealing with staff reliability
by HR of British Petroleum. In addition to this, the techniques like staff involvement
could be utilised with this respect for dealing with challenges related with workers
reliability.
 Problem related to salary and compensation: There are various problems which are
associated with the compensation problems which occur. As the outbreak of COVID-19
drives adverse affects upon entity’s operations and functioning as well as it also tends for
reflecting the low average productivity of United Kingdom by considering particular
industry that is associated with advanced economy (McGuinness and Cronin, 2020).
Because of this various problems occurs like financial compensation raise for staff as
they might feel that there are enhancement into accountabilities as well as for instance
they required to be paid more. Therefore, for dealing with alignment of particular staff
gaols of firm which is to reduce the cost and enhance the revenue.
Strategies of human resource department for dealing with challenges:
There are three main elements which are considered to be the part of atmosphere, leaders as
well as whole subordinates, the key essential elements are to be utilised for intent of using
strategic approach for staff management as well as minimise its higher level of resistance:
 The key accountability of respective entity manager is to develop effective potential in order
to develop a work atmosphere and formed an appropriate solution for dealing with
challenges as well as accepts it.
 Additionally, the managers have to determine few efforts of its staff so that they may used
the in effectual manner for entity.
 Also, there are needs of whole personnel in order to attain few laid down intent for
attainment of current determined goals with new executed changes (Phillips, 2020).
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CONCLUSION
As per the above report, this has been concluded that, changes plays essential role within
competitive business environment. Moreover, it is vital for all firms to perform changes through
determining both external as well as internal business atmosphere that emphasised key affects
upon entity’s functioning. Furthermore, some changes are determined based upon the existent
economical climate as well as also tends for developing approaches for dealing with this. In
addition to this, efficacious strategies are formulated by considering external factors which
emphasised much affects upon business. Apart from this, due to occurrence of changes firm have
to face various changes through undertaking the strategic approaches which would be helpful in
dealing with resistance to change.
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