Understanding and Leading Change: Strategies for Organizations

This report examines the impact of change on organizational strategy and operations, focusing on case studies of Mark and Spencer and Primark. It explores how both internal and external factors, such as customer demands, technology, and competitor actions, influence leadership, team dynamics, and individual behavior within these companies. The report delves into various strategies for minimizing the negative impacts of change, including adapting to customer needs, leveraging technology, and managing competition. It also analyzes barriers to change and how they influence leadership decision-making, as well as various leadership approaches to effectively deal with organizational change. The report highlights the importance of understanding market dynamics, adapting to environmental factors, and implementing well-structured strategies to ensure organizational success and sustainability in a competitive business environment.

Understanding and
Leading change

Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................2
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................2
P1. Impact of change on an organisation’s strategy and operations.......................................2
P2. Ways in which internal and external drivers of change affect leadership, team and
individual behaviour within organisation...............................................................................4
P3. Measures that can be taken to minimise negative impacts of change on organisational
behaviour................................................................................................................................6
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................7
P4. Different barriers for change and the way they influence leadership decision-making...7
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................9
P5. Various leadership approaches to deal with change.........................................................9
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................10
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................11
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INTRODUCTION
For an organisation, it is required to make various changes in firm according to its
business environment. All factors of business environment directly affect the operational and
functional activities of a company. For them various changes helps them to lead in competitive
market and get various advantages easily (Alkahtani, 2011). This report is based on two different
organisations and various patterns that they adapt to make changes in their business strategies
effectively. The project report has grounds of Mark and Spencer or Primark which have large
stores and they both are deals in clothing, home products and luxury accessories as well. Mark
and Spencer is a British multinational retailer which was established in the year 1884 by Michael
Mark and Thomas Spencer. Primark is a retailer store which was found in the year 1962 by
Arthur Ryan. The report will discuss about various changes that affect the organisation's
activities easily with different internal and external factors that influence leadership and
individual behaviour at workplace. At last, various leadership approaches that help to deal with
the changes will be studied.
TASK 1
P1. Impact of change on an organisation’s strategy and operations
An organisation faces various changes in their policy, procedures as well as company's
objectives while changes take place in the business environment. But, it is very important for a
firm to face these changes and challenges to improve their working policies effectively. All these
things help to take advantages from the target market easily. There are two different
organisations that affected from various changes which are given as below:
Mark and Spencer – This is the largest retail organisation of UK which provides their clothing
and products in world wide. Main objective and mission of this organisation is to provide quality
products to their customers in an effective and appropriate cost. Market of this organisation
directly affects their strategy and planning procedure. They focus on their promotional and
marketing strategy to spread awareness of their products and services in front of their customers.
For the same, it is very important to provide quality products to consumers at an affordable price.
Through this process, they can easily make various changes in the market and environment by
their own planning and strategies (Anderson and Anderson, 2010). For maintaining sustainable
position in the market it is very important for the organisations to understand the basic needs and
requirements of the customers. Whenever changes occurs in the plans and policies of the
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organisation it creates impact on the whole working of the organisations. Changes should be
based on well structured strategies so that it can be possible to implement them effectively.
Example – In clothing industry, customers always demand for new and fashionable
products. Do for this M&S need to get proper information of various change that effect on its
products demand easily. Through this process, they can be able to provide effective services to
customers according to their own demand and market needs. Mark and Spencer is a well-known
company which deals in international trading of products so that they will always work through
an operational and monitoring strategy of target market to analyse the product’s demand. On
them, environmental factor can affect ton their planning and procedures so they needs to make
effective strategy to deal with negative factors easily.
Impact of changes on organisation’s strategy and operations – Changes in market such as
customer's demand, market need and changes in environment directly affect aand market want as
well as various changes that can be affect its activities, so for this they make effective planning
easily. All these changes help to reduce the wastage and extra cost from manufacturing and
production services (Bingham and Main, 2010).
Primark – On the other hand, Primark deals in clothing, accessories and food products. It is a
well-known retailer company of UK and provides their products worldwide. Company faces a
strong competition from various firms of UK that provide same services to customers. So, for
this, they work through a strong strategy and planning to attract more customers towards their
store and services. In this process, their workforce helps to provide effective services to
customers as well as fulfil their needs with high satisfaction. For Primark, it is very important to
manage their business activities through manageable strategy and planning as well.
Example – For Primark, it is very important to manage business activities according to
customer's need and demands to provide quality and effective products to them. In their process
marketing analyse and a survey on customers, helps to monitoring their demand from company
and its products. It will help to provide an opportunity and advantages from the target market to
improve their revenue and profitability easily.
Impact of changes on organisation’s strategy and operations – Change is the most
important factor that helps to improve organisation's policy and their working approaches
according to market demand. Through this process, organisation easily faces various challenges
and risks that help them to get various competitive advantages easily. All different changes
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provides risk taking skills to not only organisation but also employees too. In this process, firm
frames various decisions for different strategies that provide specific activities to organisation for
their future objectives and goals as well (Branson, 2010).
P2. Ways in which internal and external drivers of change affect leadership, team and individual
behaviour within organisation
For a business organisation leadership, team management and individuals provide their
contribution and services to attain their objectives effectively. In this process, internal and
external business factors affect their decision making approaches easily. So, for this, business
need, to manage their activities according to effective strategy and planning process. For a
business organisation like M&S or Primark, it is very important to utilize their resources and
tools in an effective manner so that they can easily achieve the set future target. Internal and
external factors of business also affect leadership, teamwork and individual's working approach
in a company. There are various factors of external and internal changes that affect the business
activities, leadership, teamwork and individuals such as:
Customers led drivers – These changes are all based on customer's demand and alteration
in fashion or trends. So for this, it is very important that individuals, leaders and team of
employees work effectively to provide appropriate service to customers according to their needs.
Technology led drivers – For a business organisation, it is very important that they use
advanced technological resources and tools that help them to provide higher productivity easily.
In this process, employees of firms need training and learning to use technology easily and
appropriately (Brown, 2012).
Competitor led drivers – For M&S and Primark, it is very important to make their policy
and procedures more effectively to face various challenges easily. In this process, they can easily
make different strategies like product promotion, cost management and quality services that help
to make their own image in the market.
Investor led drivers – Investors for organisation help to provide them effective services
that in money related terms and improve goodwill of company as well. They provide capital and
funds to lead in the competitive market easily (Carrington, Deppeler and Moss, 2010).
There are various internal factors in an organisation that affect the business activities,
leadership, teamwork and individual such as:
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Strength – For a business organisation, their employees, products, tools and quality
products can be its strengths which help them to get gain higher profit. All these provide
contribution and valuable services to achieve company's set objectives and future goals. For a
firm, it is very important to improve their quality services and cost of products to attract more
customers towards the organisation and its products. For M&S and Primark, it is necessary to
manage their organisation's value and goodwill in the market to attain various opportunities. This
will help them to expend their business structure worldwide and provide services to international
level.
Weaknesses – For a large scale business organisation, it is very important to maintain
their organisation’s image in market to lead the competition. In this process, effective strategy,
teamwork and a perfect work of leader help to face all difficult challenges easily. Sometimes,
untrained staff and improper resources also become firm's weakness that can affect its policy
negatively.
There are various external factors that affect the business activities in a negative and
positive way such as:
Political factors - Political factors are basically depends on government factor, it policy
and procedure for business organisation. These factors are including areas as tax policy, labour
law, environmental effects, tariffs and trade restrictions. Any business that want to expand their
business to other country, political factor have major impact on them and they need to follow all
its rule and regulation properly (Doppelt, 2017). Economic factors - These factors are related to
economic growth, interest rates, exchange rate and inflation rate. All these components are high
impactor on the business growth. Economic factors help in the decision making. As like
exchange rate can affect the exporting goods, supply and the price of exported good in the
economy.
Social factors - It includes cultural aspects, health consciousness, population growth rate, age
distributions and career attitude. Due to some social factors, company's products may get
affected. Thus, company needs to change their management strategies.
Technological factors – It is determines technological factors are like automation, technology
incentive and the rate of technological change. Technological factors are determine barriers to
entry, influencing outsourcing decision, lead to innovation. When company updates themselves
technologically, they will have chance to grow globally and improve their productivity. Internal
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Forces are generally under the control of the company such as people, system, structures and
events. Internal forces refers to the inside conditions of the organisation. Culture and traditions
of the company, its policies and plans, structural outlook and leadership styles are the factors
which are highly related to the internal forces. Activities of the organisations are highly
influenced by the internal environment. Impacts of internal environment have remarkable impact
on the working of the organisation.
External forces that takes place outside the business environment. The impact of its
changes occur inside the environment. External forces are beyond the control of the organisation.
These forces includes social, political and economical factors. External environment occurs
outside the business environment. Managers are the one who operates the working of the
external forces. It is impossible for the managers to ignore external forces that occurred in the
business. Internal and external forces depends upon the environmental scanning .
Models of Change Management:
Lewin's Change Management Model: This model is used to analyse the changes
occurring in the organisation. These can be structural or operational changes. This strategy is
based on concept of Unfreeze, change and refreeze.
McKinsey 7 S Model: In 1980s this model was introduced and it is based on 7 stages of :
Strategy, Structure, Systems, Shared value, Style, Staff and Skills.
Kotter's change management theory: This theory is considered as a one of the most
influential theory. It is based on the various stages of : increase urgency, build the team, get the
right vision, focus on short term goals, adapt changes.
Nudge theory: This theory states that there are many factors which are responsible for the
changing behaviour of the individual.
P3. Measures that can be taken to minimise negative impacts of change on organisational
behaviour
It is very important for the organisational members to adapt changes in their working
places. It helps them to deal within the all the situations effectively. Acquiring changes is a two
way process it can be easy for some people and difficult for some. It is the regular process that
keeps on occurring in the organisation. It helps in developing hidden skills of the individual. For
maintaining sustainable position in the market it is very important for the organisations to
acquire and implement changes . It is very essential for the firm to come up with new ideas and
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innovation to attract old and new customers. The main aim of every organisation is to maximize
their growth and productivity This can be done by implementing new technologies and methods
in the working of the organisation. Their are so many negative impact of applying changes in the
organisation because it force employees to work out of their comfort level. Changes are key to
success. Leaders and managers are the one who implement decision of changes in the company.
It is very critical responsibility so they should construct well structured plans and policies before
introducing nay kind of changes in the organisation. Whenever any kind of changes takes place
in the organisation it affects the flow of work of whole organisation. Sometimes, changes in
organisation can negatively affect its procedure and working environment. In this process, it is
the responsibility of manager to manage all their business activities effectively for employees
and customers. Through this, they can reduce its negative impact easily. Changes affect
positively and negatively in the business activities. Positive changes provide them growth and
higher portability as well as negative changes need to reduce and overcome by manager's
strategy and their effective planning. There are various factors that can reduce or minimise the
negative impact of changes such as:
Creation of pathway – It is an important factor that reduce berries and conflicts in
organisation. Well planned strategies and policies are essential for the directional working of the
organisation In this, they provide effective communication skills and different learning
approaches to resolve negative impact of change on an organisation. Sometimes, teamwork and
leaders of company also provide effective direction to employees for facing these changes easily.
Adapting and acquiring changes is the challenge for the members of the organisation. It is
important for them to develop skills which helps them to handle each and every situation
efficiently. These path of manager's helps to provide skill to their employees for facing various
organisation's problem easily and accept change in better way. It helps to improve the
productivity of firm and profitability from market easily (Fagerström and Salmela, 2010).
Explain about plans – Plan and objectives is the only thing that helps to provide
organisation's demand and want from their employees to get higher success easily. Manager
creates company's goal and objective that help them to build their own image in target market. It
is the main responsibility of the managers and leaders to construct plans and polices and to keep
check on the working of the employees to evaluate whether they are doing their tasks correctly or
not. Through this process, they also get higher competitive advantage easily. All these planning
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helps to provide them effective direction and guideline that need to followed for achieve business
objectives easily. This is an only thing that helps to provide effective planning and strategy for
different challenges from market and competitive organisation's (Fullan, 2014).
Participation in meetings and seminars groups - It is also a technique of lifelong learning
in which an individual learns different things and aspects from distinct persons. All the persons
have their own perception on various things which provide others to think something different in
this way also. Through this process, individuals learn different things to improve their skills and
develop their own personality for professional lifestyle to face different challenges easily. This is
best and core part of the company because it gives strength to roots. It design and technology is
the reason for it brand equity.
Manage planning and its implementation :For long term successful growth of the
organisation it is very important to apply well structured plans and policies in their working.
Initiating and implementing plans is the main responsibility of the organisational managers and
leaders. This process is guide to decision maker to do differentiate what is right or what is good
for organisation and individuals. After that, they need to choose better option between them and
this result should have to be what is right for each and every one. This principal is also attempt to
generate good values for them as well as provides larger ration in firm which is increases their
productivity and services effectively. Planning a strategy of manger helps to provide guideline to
their employees of future goal and objectives. These decisions are taken very responsibly to
protect workers emotions and further harms. But in it decision maker should have to be very
clever and wise to hear and observe each aspects and relate themself for those situation after that
take a particular decision according to these facts. Leaders and managers can guide their
employees in order to complete their tasks effectively and efficiently. This will help in achieving
organisational goals and objectives.
Implementation of plan with suitable goals and targets – It is very important for any
organisation to develop plans with desires outcomes. Their are various planning models,
concepts and theories are available which helps organisations to construct various plans and
policies in order to accomplishing the organisational goals. Target and goal of organisation
provide guideline that need to be followed by employees to get higher growth and success easily.
For this manager of company need to provide them proper training and learning to develop their
skill and working ability. Employees of firm are be their key strength who provide their services
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and contribution to achieve their target . In this process proper knowledge of technology also
helps to provide them higher productivity and profitability .
TASK 2
P4. Different barriers for change and the way they influence leadership decision-making
Changes for an organisation also help to create new motive and strategy for various tasks.
In this process, leader of organisation helps to provide proper directions to their employees.
Leadership is the quality of individual who provides their services in organisation to achieve set
future objectives and targets easily. Leader of organisation also makes positive changes in the
working environment to motivate their peers easily towards firm's goals and set targets. Decision
making process of leader is also based on the positive changes in employees and their working
approaches so, for this, they can easily reduce barriers and conflicts from the workplace
(Hallinger and Heck, 2011).
Lack of employees involvement –Employees involvement is essential in the organisation.
It helps in achieving desired outcomes and objectives. It is a negative factor of organisation that
all the level of employees do not show their interest to involve in organisation's activities. This
process negatively affect organisation's working approaches. It is essential requirement of firm
that their workforce show its interest in working approaches because through this manager also
get new ideas and thoughts of employees for a particular task. It is also a working approach of
employees that helps to build a positive environment in organisation. Through this process, they
can easily face different challenges in the organisation and so, in business activities (Malenfant,
2010).
Lack of Effective communication – For the leader of organisation, it is very important to
build positive relations in between their employees. In this process, effective communication
skill also helps to build employees interaction with each other. This will help them to create
effective team to reduce workload from an individual and to communicate their ideas and
thoughts to each other easily. After this approach, staff members of a company can easily face
various negative and positive changes in the firm and deal with them effectively. Also, in this
process, it is the responsibility of an organisation and its leader that they provide information
regarding various changes that they are adapting. It is very essential for the organisational
managers and leaders to develop effective communication skills within the organisation so that
they can communicate with each other productively.
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Bad culture planning – In a business organisation, it is very important to build a positive
working environment for their employees who enjoy to work its and improve their productivity
easily. Positive working environment helps in maintaining motivation and satisfaction level of
the employees who are working for an organisation. In this process, leader needs to make various
decisions and improve working approaches easily. In this process, they need to provide them
effective communication skill, training process of their personality development for facing
various challenges. In it team and management of organisation only provides functional and
operational activities in company son they need to build efficiency through training and
development process (Parsons and Cornett, 2011).
Complexities – This factor can be affect negatively in organisation because various
decision of leader and manager also create complexity through their decision that can be hard to
understand for their employees. So, for this, it is very important to build effective relations with
them to reduce their problems and doubt on timely bases. In this process, company needs to
adopt various strategies to overcome and minimise them for employees and management. These
complexities can negatively affect the organisation and its working approaches.
Self-efficiency perceptions and resistance to change - For an organisation, it is very
important to reduce conflicts from their company that can take a lots of time to get resolved.
Sometimes, multi-tasking things create problems to solve them at a particular time. This things
can be very small but they consume full time of employees. For this, work contribution and time
management are very important. Through self-auditing process in an organisation, individuals
can control negative approaches and improve the ability and working capacity that help them in
the future. All the persons have their own perception on various things which provide others to
think something different in this way as well (Salmela, Eriksson and Fagerström, 2012).
TASK 3
P5. Various leadership approaches to deal with change
In a business organisation like mark and Spencer or Primark, leader helps them to reduce
barriers and conflicts from their working approaches. They always work to provide motivation,
guideline and skill improvement training to develop their working capacity easily. In various
changes, leader helps to provide guideline to work through it effectively and reduce its negative
impacts on organisation. There are different types of leadership skills explained that affect
organisation's working process according to different requirements such as
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Situational leadership – These kind of leadership style introduce various changes in la
leader’s skills according to different situation. In this process leaders make various strategy that
make influences in employees working approach to face different challenges easily. These kind
of leader turn working skills according to different situations. After this process, they all
employees easily changes various situation and its negative approaches in their working skills
and organisation's activities. Leadership style also affect organisation's target and their objective
in different manner (Suchman, 2011).
Framework leadership – These kind of leader provide their services according to different
framework of organisation that helps to providing effective guideline and direction to their
employees. These leadership style is highly dedicated toward the firm's objective and their future
target to make different changes according to them. Sometimes, it is required in organisation to
make various changes according to different market demands. All these kinds of directions help
to improve productivity and profitability of company in an appropriate manner. In this, company
can bring effective strategy and goodwill to compete in the competitive market.
Transformational leadership – This kind of leadership is based on day to day activities of
organisation to provide effectiveness in the working approaches. In this, leader provides
guidelines to employees to work effectively and face various challenges with an appropriate
style. These decisions are taken responsibly to protect worker’s emotions and further harms. But,
in it decision maker should have to be very clever and wise to hear and observe each aspects and
relate themself for those situation after that take a particular decision according to these facts
(Thomas, 2013).
CONCLUSION
This project report is based on various changes that an organisation faces in their working
approaches. These working changes can be negative or positive for a company but for their, it is
very important that organisation faces them properly to gain business advantages from the target
market. In this process organisation need to face various problem and changes according to
specific strategy and planning. For them leader and manager help to provide effective direction
and guideline to their workforce. They provide effective strategy that helps to get organisation's
goal and objective in appropriate manner as well.
REFERENCES
Books and Journals
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