Exam 7: Managing Change and Innovation

Which of the following is an example of a variable that can foster innovation?

'Computerisation' is a technological change that replaces people with machines.

Most early studies in management, such as Taylor and the Gilbreths, dealt with efforts aimed at ________.

The 'calm waters' approach to change would be consistent with Lewin's concept of unfreezing, changing and refreezing.

If Kraft Foods hired a consultant to decrease group friction and enhance cooperative work relationships, this would be an example of managing what change category?

________ refers to covert attempts to influence, twisting and distorting facts or withholding information.

A state government purposely misrepresenting public employee wages to the citizens in order to apply downward wage pressure in the collective bargaining process would be an example of what kind of tactic for reducing change resistance?

The existence of a dramatic crisis can facilitate cultural change.

'Buying off' the leader of a resistance group in order to get his/her endorsement is an example of what kind of tactic for reducing change resistance?

Organisational change can be alteration in people, structure or technology.

eVolve - Reorganisation eVolve is a mid-size company designing and developing e-commerce websites for retailers.It has been operating for the last 15 years with many of its original staff.It has had all the traditional departments: sales, accounting, web designers and HR.The company has been very successful, recruiting dozens of new customers each month.Since their clients have been very happy with their work, eVolve has had many new clients referred by word-of-mouth, and now they have a much greater demand for their services.The CEO has consulted the department heads and they have decided that the best thing to do is to restructure the company into a team-based structure, where cross-functional teams work together on different projects.The decision has been made public and employees have begun to respond.While some employees are very supportive of the idea, some fear that it would lead to greater confusion and inefficiencies, which will result in poorer performance.Others are concerned about the possibility of losing their positions.Management has considered these thoughts, but is still determined to move ahead with the change. -Refer to eVolve - Reorganisation (Scenario).If management makes it clear that employees who do not cooperate with change efforts will lose their jobs, they would be using ________ as a way to address resistance to change.

In terms of organisational factors, any attempt to lower stress levels has to begin with employee selection.

In organisations, people who act as catalysts and assume responsibility for managing the change process are called ________.

'Negotiation' refers to covert attempts to influence, twisting and distorting facts or withholding information.

A major disadvantage of coercion is that it is frequently illegal.

eVolve - Reorganisation eVolve is a mid-size company designing and developing e-commerce websites for retailers.It has been operating for the last 15 years with many of its original staff.It has had all the traditional departments: sales, accounting, web designers and HR.The company has been very successful, recruiting dozens of new customers each month.Since their clients have been very happy with their work, eVolve has had many new clients referred by word-of-mouth, and now they have a much greater demand for their services.The CEO has consulted the department heads and they have decided that the best thing to do is to restructure the company into a team-based structure, where cross-functional teams work together on different projects.The decision has been made public and employees have begun to respond.While some employees are very supportive of the idea, some fear that it would lead to greater confusion and inefficiencies, which will result in poorer performance.Others are concerned about the possibility of losing their positions.Management has considered these thoughts, but is still determined to move ahead with the change. -Refer to eVolve - Reorganisation (Scenario).If management starts a series of seminars that show research on cross-functional teams and how successful they have been in the website design business, they would be using ________ as a way to address resistance to change.

Which of the following is true concerning stress that arises from an employee's personal life?

Which of the following techniques for reducing resistance to change is based on the belief that, if employees receive the full facts and clarifications, they will no longer be resistant?

In a short essay, list and discuss three of the reasons that describe why people resist change.Include an example of each reason to support your answer.

________ refers to the ability to combine ideas in a unique way or to make unusual associations between ideas.