Management – Organizational Change and Development
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MGT.docx
MGT– Organizational Change and Development
Make sure to answer each question completely using course concepts and specific examples from the article or from personal experience to support your analysis.
It should not be necessary to use external sources beyond the text, the article and examples taken from the course. If you choose to use external sources, make sure to cite and provide reference information for the source.
Chapter 3 – Changing the Culture (25 points)
Review the article from Bloomberg on changing the culture at Novartis.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-07-24/novartis-s-cultural-revolution-will-be-ai-enabled-and-desk-free
Also review the article from Business Insider (posted on Canvas) on changing the culture at Novartis.
a) Using Schein’s 3 levels of culture, analyze and describe the culture at Novartis.
Hint: Schein’s first level of culture includes the visible artifacts. The second level of culture focuses on espoused values. The third (and deepest) level of culture focuses on unstated assumptions, beliefs and and truths.
b) Next, explain what the new CEO, Vas Narasimhan, means when he says that “slogans on posters and jeans” alone are not enough to change the behavior of 12,000 leaders and that “now the hard work has begun.”
Hint: Consider the statement from the text that “Changing a corporate culture is not easy” (p. 67).
c) Finally, discuss whether you believe that copying the cultural norms from successful technology firms, like Amazon and Google, will lead to success for Novartis or if such cultural norms will be a poor fit for an established firm in the biopharmaceutical industry?
Hint: Use at least one of the new cultural norms from the article to support your answer.
Chapter 5 – The Diagnostic Process (25 points)
Review two recent articles from the Wall Street Journal focusing on Tesla’s response to various business and legal challenges.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/tesla-names-robyn-denholm-as-chairman-to-replace-elon-musk-1541659771
a) First, discuss the performance gap (p. 118 – 119) for Tesla between its stated mission to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy and its current situation.
Hint: Compare the situation(s) described in the article with the mission statement from Tesla’s Web site:
b) Next, identify and briefly discuss 3 driving forces (p. 129 – 130) that are putting pressure on Tesla to change and 3 restraining forces that support the status quo. Rate the relative strength (one a scale of 1 to 10) for each driving and restraining force to indicate which force(s) have the greatest impact.
Hint: Remember that resistance to change is not a restraining force, but rather is the result of restraining forces.
c) Finally, explain whether Tesla is currently at a state of relative equilibrium, based upon the relative strengths of the driving and restraining forces, or if it is under pressure to change. Are the changes that Tesla is currently making sufficient to maintain (or regain) equilibrium? Or do you believe additional changes will be necessary?
Hint: An organization is in a state of equilibrium when driving and restraining forces are relatively equal. One method for analyzing the relative strength of driving and restraining forces is to total the ratings (1 to 10) for the driving forces and compare against the total for the ratings (1 to 10) for the restraining forces. It is also possible to compare the average rating for the driving forces with the average rating for the restraining forces.
Chapter 14 – High Performing Systems and Learning Organization (25 points)
Review the article from CNBC on current challenges related to culture and employee satisfaction facing Facebook as well as the summary of Mark Zuckerberg’s core values from CBS News.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ceo-zuckerberg-facebooks-5-core-values/
a) First, based upon the System 4 Profile or Organizational Characteristics in Figure 14.1 (p. 380), identify the System profile (System 1, 2, 3 or 4) that describes the current environment at Facebook. In which direction is the company evolving?
Hint: Support your assessment with specific reference to the parameters of the System 4 model as well as examples from the article.
b) Next, compare Zuckerberg’s core values with the attributes of learning organizations (p. 375 to 378). Do you consider Facebook to fit the description of a learning organization? Why or why not?
Hint: Support your assessment with specific reference to the values and characteristics of a learning organization as well as examples from the article.
c) Finally, consider the role of Facebook’s leadership in creating and sustaining a high performing organization (p. 381). What specific changes in leadership or leadership style is needed for Facebook to become a high-performing organization?
Hint: Review the discussion of future leadership (p. 381) that states “…. Leaders will no longer be seen as grand visionaries, all-wise decision-makers, and iron-fisted disciplinarians. Instead they will need to become social architects, constitution writers, and entrepreneurs of meaning. In this new model, the leader’s job is to create an environment where every employee has the chance to collaborate, innovate, and excel.” Support your response with specific examples of Zuckerberg’s current leadership style.
Chapter 15 - Organizational Transformation and Strategic Change (25 points)
Review the recent articles from CNN and USA Today and the investor press release from the company discussing current challenges facing General Motors.
https://www.cnn.com/2018/11/26/business/gm-jobs-electric-cars/
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2018/11/27/mary-barra-gm-general-motors/2116833002/
https://investor.gm.com/news-releases/news-release-details/general-motors-accelerates-transformation
a) First consider the decision of GM CEO Mary Barra to “reinvent the company”. Based upon the Strategies for Planned Organizational Change matrix in Figure 15.2 (p. 402) explain which of the four strategies that GM is following.
Hint: Support your assessment with specific reference to timeframe and the choice between participative and directive strategies.
b) Next, based upon the Strategy-Culture Matrix in Figure 15.5 (p. 407), identify the approach that you believe GM is taking. What specific lessons can GM take from other companies such as Sears and Walmart?
Hint: Support your assessment with specific reference to the dimensions of need for strategic change and compatibility of change with existing culture.
c) Finally, use the Relative Strength of Corporate Culture matrix in Figure 15.4 (p 406) to categorize GM’s current culture and the potential for resistance to change. Do you agree with Barra’s approach of weakening culture today in order to strengthen it in the future?
Hint: Identify specific example(s) from the article that support your assessment.
