Leading and Managing Change: A Case Study of Barnacles Hotel

Verified

Added on  2020/10/23

|8
|2726
|279
Report
AI Summary
This report provides a comprehensive analysis of change management within the context of Barnacles Hotel, a family-run business facing challenges from a competitor. The report addresses the feasibility of wholesale cultural change, the effectiveness of a planned approach to change, and the most appropriate leadership style for the situation. It explores the implementation of Kotter's 8-step change management model, considering structural, strategic, and technological changes. The report emphasizes the importance of adapting to customer demands, improving operational efficiency, and fostering employee engagement. The discussion includes the application of situational leadership theory to address staffing issues and promote flexibility within the organization, ultimately aiming to enhance Barnacles Hotel's competitiveness and sustainability.
Document Page
LEADING AND
MANAGING CHANGE
tabler-icon-diamond-filled.svg

Paraphrase This Document

Need a fresh take? Get an instant paraphrase of this document with our AI Paraphraser
Document Page
Q1. Can wholesale cultural change be achieved at barnacles?
Wholesale culture change is extensive change which largely affect the whole
organization and its activities as well (Yoder-Wise, 2014). Mainly, this type of change are taken
place when company needs to improve their overall performance level and attempts to compete
effectively in the market. As per case study of Barnacle, it is family run business for over 70
years. Along with this, it also generate profit but its old school charm have not been able to
attract additional customers to this organization. The emergence of Peacock Hall have emerged
to a crucial threat to the organization which arises needs to be incorporate wholesale changes so
to improve sustainability. This is the main reason that Rita that is current owner manager of
Barnacle attempting to introduce wholesale cultural change in the institution so that there is an
improvement in the functioning and performance of the hotel. She have been able to avail
substantial finance for refurbishment of the hotel to compete Peacock Hall.
In addition of this, wholesale culture change is beneficial for hotel to improve their brand
image and also give high competition to Peacock Hall. With wholesale refurbishment, Rita
attempting to change their entire activities such on operational, functional and strategic grounds
to enhance productivity level. But due to inflexible structure change will negatively impact on
the employees because workers are always perform their activity with inflexibility so that they
reduce their working efficiency and fail in managing changes. Thus it is important for manager
to provide them direction to perform their task in systematic way with the aim of attaining set
target.
Therefore, it can be stated that it is feasible for this Barnacles to introduce wholesale
cultural changes in their operations and working. With the help of this change, manager of the
hotel can easily improve the efficiency level of the firm as compare to its rivals i.e. Peacock Hall.
In this, the owner of hotel introduce changes with the aim to survive in the industry for longer
period through attracting more customers towards their services. Henceforth, Rita, with the
availed funds is planning to furnish floor with fresh carpets, new and interesting decors, new
indoor pool with a sauna and gymnasium. All these are help in making the hotel more attractive
and eye catching to the existing loyal customers base at the same time attracting new ones as
well (Fullan, 2014). If hotel is not concerned with their services standards than all the investment
will be wasted. Thus, it is important for Barnacles to focus on their operations and processes
through services are offered to clients. With the assistance of this, hotel becomes capable to
1
Document Page
compete with their rivals. In addition of this, wholesale culture change also determine the new
ways by which hotel can easily survive in the future for longer period of time. Under such
circumstances, it is more preferable to use Kotter's change management model so that transition
is carried out in the ideal manner.
Q2. Taking into account the change objectives,will a planned approach to change work ?
Objectives are the important and basic tool for every business organization to elemental
to all the planning activities. As it help in improving and evaluating the overall performance of
the company. One of the main advantage of setting objectives is to minimize the expenses and at
the same time also contribute in improving the efficiency level of the business organization. In
addition of this, change objectives are also consider as vital aspect for organization to improve
entire activities of the company in systematic manner (Dawson and Andriopoulos, 2014). In
context of Barnacle, new appointed HR and training manager is provided with a responsibility
to achieve certain objectives which will be helpful as per changing scenario and trends in the
hospitality industry. Change objectives are also affect various activities within the business
which may lead in developing positive brand image in-front of customers. As the main objective
of Barnacle is to incorporate changes in the culture of the organization along with reducing the
total wage bill by 10% by deploying staff more effectively. For this, manager needs to manager
all the employees effectively and allotted them task as per their capabilities. So that they can
easily operate their activities and serve quality services to their customers as per their needs and
wants.
Furthermore, hospitality industry is seasonal therefore during peak seasons demand of
products and services are such that workforce of the organization seems understaffed. However
during low seasons employees who are hired on permanent basis are mostly seen chatting with
themselves or with guests. As they are being hired on the permanent contracts employer is
enforced to pay them salary (Mariani And et. al., 2014). Thus, it is vital for Barnacle to focus on
customers demands so that they can easily reduce the complaints that arise from customers as
well.
Apart from this, hotel needs to make an effective planned approach to change the work in
positive manner. By preparing plans, Barnacle can easily improve the working system of the
company and its workers as well. As it also affect the organizations activities such as:
2
Document Page
Structural: The structural change in context of undertaken organization can be carried
out on the grounds of chain of command, job structure and modification in rules and regulation
relates to governance (Georgalis and et. al, 2015). In context of Barnacle, there is a crucial need
to redefine the job structure which is to be fulfilled by the existing employees in the
organization. Considering the inflexibility and failure to fulfill demand, there has been a need to
implement performance measurement approaches so that there is an improvement in the quality
of services offered along with enhancement in flexibility.
Strategical: This type of change is also played an important role in management because
it help managing entire change in systematic manner with the aim of attaining set objectives of
the company. The planned approach to strategic management of the organizational workforce is
that only a limited number of people will be hired on the permanent contractual basis and rest of
the employees as per their demand that too on temporary basis.
Technological: It is also an important change which help Barnacle to refurbishment
whole activities of the hotel for making their overall performance positive as compare to Peacock
Hall. By changing in technologies, hotel can easily serve quality services to their customers as
per their needs and wants. This will reduce the complaints of customers towards the hotel
services. It directly contribute in building positive relation with their existing and new customers
as well (Henfridsson, Mathiassen and Svahn, 2014). The major technological up-gradation which
can be carried out in the organization is developing a website and providing facility on online
booking which enhances the level convenience and satisfaction of customers.
The approach to change management which is to be implemented by this business is
opting for Kotter's 8 step change management model. The justification of the same is that
undertaking of this approach will be helpful to Barnacle in introducing change at the same time
not compromising on the motivation and engagement of employees. In this context, Kotter
change style is more effective which consist 8 steps to manage the change within the activities:
Established a sense of urgency: Under this step, manager of Barnacle evaluate the
market competition with the purpose of improve their performance. It is essential to
communicate the sense of urgency and why it is important to act immediately. For attaining the
same, refurbishment is emergent change through which they easily examine opportunities in the
operating market and compete effectively with rival businesses.
3
tabler-icon-diamond-filled.svg

Paraphrase This Document

Need a fresh take? Get an instant paraphrase of this document with our AI Paraphraser
Document Page
(Source: Kotter’s 8 step Model of Change, 2018)
From a powerful coalition: In this Barnacle needs to assemble their workers to
effectively lead with changes. For this manager provide them direction and support to accept
changes with the aim of attaining set goals and objectives (Kotters 8 Step Process, 2016). Along
with, strategies are also develop by the manager for making employees flexible by persuading
them to accept change and act according to situation to fulfill customer service in the ideal
manner.
Create a vision: It is also an important step in which Barnacle set their clear vision i.e. to
introduce wholesale cultural change so that this institution becomes competitive in the market.
For this, manager of the firm provide training for motivating and encouraging them to perform
their task and handle customers effectively. This will help in reducing the customers issues
towards the hotel services.
Communicating the vision: It is also important stage for managing change within the
Barnacle. In this, manager needs to effective communication channel to communicate with their
staff members and gather their participation relating to change so that transition is successful.
4
Illustration 1: Kotter's 8 Step Process
Document Page
For managing the change, manager provide guidance and support to their staff members so that
they can easily understand customers needs and wants at the time of serving them services.
Empowering others to act on the vision: It is also an important step for Barnacle to
manage as well as effectively implement the changes. In this, manager have to evaluate the
organizational structure and performance of the workers to ensure that all the set change are
relational with clear objectives. Along with this, they also take quick action at the time of
implementing changes within the activities with the purpose of improving the positive image of
the company at market place.
Planning for and creating short term wins: Under this, Barnacle set short term
objectives with the aim of reach their set target. The short term wins can be established on the
basis of acceptance of change by employees, implementation of technology and desired
refurbishment of the infrastructure (Al-Haddad and Kotnour, 2015). It is essential to
communicate and track progress relating to change so that they can be corrected or rewarded
relating to their efforts.
Consolidating improvement and producing more change: This step focuses on pressing
hard on the changes which are carried out within organization. Post acceptance of change by the
employees, new policies and procedures relating to governing employee behavior are to be
introduced so that it helps in changing vision to reality.
Institutionalizing new approaches: This steps focuses on continuation of change in
context of the organization and ensuring that the change in structures and procedures have been
able to replace old inflexible approaches with practices which are able to fulfill customer
requirements in the ideal manner and face competition in the ideal manner (Ghavifekr and et. al.,
2017).
Q3. What kind of leadership style would you adopt in Barnacles case study and why?
Leadership style is the effective approach for providing direction, implementing plans,
leading and motivating workers for improving their overall performance. Thus, it is vital for
leader to select appropriate leadership style for enhancing workers productivity. As per case
study of Barnacle Bay Country House hotel, owner of the company face the staffing issues that
negatively affect the entire activities of hotel. For this Rita clement has appropriated a new HR
and training manager with the aim of improving the overall performance of the company. In this
context, manager of the hotel needs to adopt situational leadership theory to effectively manage
5
Document Page
and lead staff members (Hoch and Kozlowski, 2014). Along with this, it is a effective leadership
style which help leader to lead team members in systematic manner. Mainly, this type of style is
flexible in nature which used by leaders as per working environment of the business
organization. It is not based on the particular skills of leader as it more inclined to suit the
organization requirements.
In this, situational leadership is more applicable in order to make their employees flexible
as it was identified during survey of customers that this service provider is “charming but
inflexible'. Due to this, there are many issues which was being faced by customers such as clients
were waiting for long for the services. Therefore, situational leadership will be helpful in guiding
employees according to situations so that effective outcomes can be gained. As a result,
appropriate change will assist company in making “wholesale cultural change” appropriately so
as to sustain in the market for a longer period of time. Thus, with the helps of situational
leadership theory leader can easily recognise various issues and problem that evolve as per
different circumstances and make strategies to overcome the same (Rudhumbu, 2015).
Moreover, on the basis of this, leaders can direct or coach their employees for accomplishing the
task in a better. Hence, it will assist leaders in creating a better relationship between their
subordinates. This will also contribute in gaining competitive advantage in relation with rival
firm i.e. Peacock Hall.
6
tabler-icon-diamond-filled.svg

Paraphrase This Document

Need a fresh take? Get an instant paraphrase of this document with our AI Paraphraser
Document Page
REFERENCES
Books and journals
Al-Haddad, S. and Kotnour, T., 2015. Integrating the organizational change literature: a model
for successful change. Journal of Organizational Change Management. 28(2). pp.234-
262.
Dawson, P. and Andriopoulos, C., 2014. Managing change, creativity and innovation. Sage.
Fullan, M., 2014. Leading in a culture of change personal action guide and workbook. John
Wiley & Sons.
Georgalis, J. and et. al, 2015. Change process characteristics and resistance to organisational
change: The role of employee perceptions of justice. Australian Journal of
Management. 40(1). pp.89-113.
Ghavifekr, S. and et. al., 2017. Managing change in educational organization: a conceptual
overview. MOJEM: Malaysian Online Journal of Educational Management. 1(1). pp.1-
13.
Henfridsson, O., Mathiassen, L. and Svahn, F., 2014. Managing technological change in the
digital age: the role of architectural frames. Journal of Information Technology. 29(1).
pp.27-43.
Hoch, J. E. and Kozlowski, S. W., 2014. Leading virtual teams: Hierarchical leadership,
structural supports, and shared team leadership. Journal of applied psychology. 99(3).
p.390.
Mariani, M. M. And et. al., 2014. Managing change in tourism destinations: Key issues and
current trends. Journal of Destination Marketing & Management. 2(4). pp.269-272.
Rudhumbu, N., 2015. Managing curriculum change from the middle: how academic middle
managers enact their role in higher education. International Journal of Higher
Education. 4(1). p.106.
Yoder-Wise, P. S., 2014. Leading and managing in nursing-E-Book. Elsevier Health Sciences.
Online
Kotters 8 Step Process. 2016. [Online]. Available through:<>.https://www.educational-business-
articles.com/8-step-process/
Kotter’s 8 step Model of Change. 2018. [Online]. Available
through:<https://www.managementstudyguide.com/kotters-8-step-model-of-
change.htm>.
7
chevron_up_icon
1 out of 8
circle_padding
hide_on_mobile
zoom_out_icon
[object Object]