BUSS 5065 Managing Change
Assignment 1 – Critical Analysis In this first assignment, with respect to organizational change, you will critically examine an organization with which you are directly involved on a day-to-day basis. (Please refer to the broad definition of ‘organization’ that was presented in earlier sessions). Such organization might be one in which you are employed; or if you have never worked, one in which you have a direct stake; including for example, your role as a student at the institution you are studying, or your role as a member of a sporting or other club.
This assignment aims to develop students’ appreciation of their capacity as an individual, in introducing change to their respective organization. Thus, in this assignment, you will consider an organization which you currently have or previously have had personal involvement.
In the context of your understanding of the status quo, consider what change [if any], you might propose to improve an aspect of the organization over which you are directly involved. You are to approach this assignment from the view of what YOU personally would do to introduce and implement the proposal (NOT what you think others should do) and outline the process you personally might follow to get approval/buy-in to the final implementation.
Your essay, appropriately structured with introduction and conclusion sandwiching the main body of discussions, should include: * in the area over which you have direct involvement, a brief account of the current situation and your critical assessment of the status quo, * identification of a proposed change in which you have authority or influence; and your motivation, rationale and justification for the change; * critical discussion of the change plan you will put into place; and the process that you would follow to implement the change; * identification of the challenges/obstacles you anticipate in transitioning to the new changed state and how you might overcome them.
This is both a practical business-oriented, as well as an academic assignment. Your assignment should be written in essay form; drawing from the change management literature to frame your discussions. As this essay relates to initiatives that you personally would implement as a change agent, you may use the first-person style.
You are required to include a minimum of 15 different references are required from the Change literature; at least 7 of which, must be from articles in the course e-Readings provided in this course. The referencing style to be used is the UniSA Harvard style. A Reference list must be included after the Conclusion.
The word count is to be observed and incorporates everything from the first word of the Introduction to the final word in the Conclusion.
Assessment criteria: The assignment will be assessed on the following criteria: * Adherence to the assessment instructions and relevance in addressing the assessment requirements; including focus on addressing change within the student’s area of authority and influence; acting as an internal change agent. 20% * Demonstrates appropriate application of the knowledge, concepts and tools of organizational change; fully supported by referenced sources from the change management literature. 20% * Demonstrates ability to identify the organizational problem issue and apply process of analysis and synthesis to emerge a plausible change solution; fully substantiated with referenced evidence. 20% * Demonstrates reflective and critical thinking in presenting a logical structure and flow for the case for workplace change and its implementation; including appreciation of the multiple stakeholders affected; and the organizational systems constraints; fully substantiated with referenced evidence. 20% * Thorough referencing (Harvard author-date system; thoroughly and correctly used in-text and as listed), using a minimum of 15 references from the Change literature; at least 7 of which must be from articles in your course e-Readings. Note: Wikipedia is not accepted as academic referencing. Although this component is allocated 10%; failure in this component will negatively affect the prior listed components. * Observes protocols of academic writing and professional presentation (spelling, grammar, and layout) and adherence to word limit. 10%
