Exam 7: Innovation and Adaptability

What OD technique involves changing the attitudes,stereotypes,and perceptions that work groups have about each other?

New Ideas Inc. (Scenario) Though New Ideas Inc. has been in business profitably for 30 years, the company and its employees have seemingly been in a constant state of change. Paul Gill has been president of New Ideas for the last 15 years. During this time, he has had to change the strategic focus of the company three times. The employees have become vocal recently about the decrease in their bonus cheques and are waiting to share in the increased profits. It seems as though his competition is always introducing new products into the market, and the niches Gill thought New Ideas held leadership in are always changing. Recently the government has been active in passing new legislation to increase the control of the product packaging and product contents. The technology used to manufacture the products is constantly improving with the use of robotics to make the process more efficient. -The employees' complaints about their reduced bonus cheques are an example of a(n)________ force for change.

Which of the following is a characteristic of adaptive organizations?

New Ideas Inc. (Scenario) Though New Ideas Inc. has been in business profitably for 30 years, the company and its employees have seemingly been in a constant state of change. Paul Gill has been president of New Ideas for the last 15 years. During this time, he has had to change the strategic focus of the company three times. The employees have become vocal recently about the decrease in their bonus cheques and are waiting to share in the increased profits. It seems as though his competition is always introducing new products into the market, and the niches Gill thought New Ideas held leadership in are always changing. Recently the government has been active in passing new legislation to increase the control of the product packaging and product contents. The technology used to manufacture the products is constantly improving with the use of robotics to make the process more efficient. -The change to robotics in the manufacturing process to increase efficiency is the result of the competitors lowering their prices.Therefore it is a(n)________ force for change.

Innovation Variables at Lightspeed (Scenario) Edwin Lee leads a cross-functional product development team at Lightspeed.com, a software company with employees in 10 countries around the world. The members of Edwin's team are hard-working and highly creative, but he wonders if there are ways to stimulate more innovation from the team. As the company has grown, so too has the bureaucracy. Numerous rules and policies have been introduced, and decision making has become highly centralized. This has resulted in resource limitations and tight project deadlines. Fortunately, with the use of web cams and other Internet technology, Edwin is able to hold frequent meetings with his global cross-functional teams. And despite some structural limitations, the company's culture does seem to foster creative solutions. Diverse opinions are encouraged, and even the most unrealistic, "off-the-wall" solutions are accepted without criticism. Mistakes are treated as learning opportunities—a good thing, since there have definitely been some mistakes! -Which cultural variable relates to the acceptance of "off-the wall" solutions at Lightspeed?

Organizational development techniques seek to bring about change in which of the basic change categories?

Changing recruitment strategies to attract and retain health care specialists due to increased needs for those workers is an example of what kind of external force for change?

Define Organizational Development (OD)and how it is used to change people in the change process.In addition,describe briefly the five most popular OD techniques.

New idea champions are extremely self-confident,persistent,energetic,and have a tendency to take risks.

Fred Fryer's Donuts (Scenario) Since the integration of two new stores, Fred Fryer's Donuts, Inc. has recognized that there is a need for reengineering the entire organization. The main need is to install new state-of-the-art kitchen equipment in the seven remaining stores, and then dispose of all old equipment to a salvage dealer or else incur a loss. The employees will have to be trained to operate the new computer programmed equipment. Some of the older employees are worried that learning the computerized system may be too difficult. Fred is setting up the main store as a training store. The regular employees from the main store have the responsibility of instructing the classes or overseeing the installation of the new equipment and testing its operation before employees return to their jobs. The organization is also replacing the old employee reporting system. Ordering of materials will now be done by an intranet. Fred has promised that no one will lose his or her job because of the organizational changes. He estimates that when the employees get to the computer programming training, as many as 10 percent of the current employees will resign or retire. He also thinks that opening a new store will absorb the excess employees. -Which situational factor seems to be prompting the cultural changes at Fred Fryer's Donuts?

Fred Fryer's Donuts (Scenario) Since the integration of two new stores, Fred Fryer's Donuts, Inc. has recognized that there is a need for reengineering the entire organization. The main need is to install new state-of-the-art kitchen equipment in the seven remaining stores, and then dispose of all old equipment to a salvage dealer or else incur a loss. The employees will have to be trained to operate the new computer programmed equipment. Some of the older employees are worried that learning the computerized system may be too difficult. Fred is setting up the main store as a training store. The regular employees from the main store have the responsibility of instructing the classes or overseeing the installation of the new equipment and testing its operation before employees return to their jobs. The organization is also replacing the old employee reporting system. Ordering of materials will now be done by an intranet. Fred has promised that no one will lose his or her job because of the organizational changes. He estimates that when the employees get to the computer programming training, as many as 10 percent of the current employees will resign or retire. He also thinks that opening a new store will absorb the excess employees. -The installation of the new equipment at is an example of ________.

New Ideas Inc. (Scenario) Though New Ideas Inc. has been in business profitably for 30 years, the company and its employees have seemingly been in a constant state of change. Paul Gill has been president of New Ideas for the last 15 years. During this time, he has had to change the strategic focus of the company three times. The employees have become vocal recently about the decrease in their bonus cheques and are waiting to share in the increased profits. It seems as though his competition is always introducing new products into the market, and the niches Gill thought New Ideas held leadership in are always changing. Recently the government has been active in passing new legislation to increase the control of the product packaging and product contents. The technology used to manufacture the products is constantly improving with the use of robotics to make the process more efficient. -Before Gill took over as president,the previous 15 years had been a period of stability and steady predictable growth for New Ideas.This period was consistent with the ________ metaphor of the change process.

The Management Seminar (Scenario) Mandy recently returned from her two-day managerial seminar, How to Totally Change Your Management and Leadership Style in Two Days. Even though she felt the seminar was worthless (as she had predicted), it did give her a chance to think about how to change the culture of her organization. She had been brought in by the new CEO as a change agent, and her position had the authority to make an impact. She felt that the recent hostile takeover by their parent company had shocked everyone, especially given that the entire organization consisted of only 150 people and had been in business for only five years. She felt this might be the time to attempt cultural change while everyone was still thinking in terms of change. As she tossed her leadership seminar manual into the wastebasket, she considered what might be her first step and how well the cultural change would work. -Which of the following is a favourable condition that might help Mandy to implement cultural change?

Managing change is an integral part of every manager's job.

Changing structure includes any change in structural variables such as reporting relationships,coordination mechanisms,employee empowerment,or job redesign.

New Ideas Inc. (Scenario) Though New Ideas Inc. has been in business profitably for 30 years, the company and its employees have seemingly been in a constant state of change. Paul Gill has been president of New Ideas for the last 15 years. During this time, he has had to change the strategic focus of the company three times. The employees have become vocal recently about the decrease in their bonus cheques and are waiting to share in the increased profits. It seems as though his competition is always introducing new products into the market, and the niches Gill thought New Ideas held leadership in are always changing. Recently the government has been active in passing new legislation to increase the control of the product packaging and product contents. The technology used to manufacture the products is constantly improving with the use of robotics to make the process more efficient. -The change in the strategic focus of the company is a(n)________ force for change.

Managers exclusively play the role of change agents.

Allowing employees who resist change to participate in the change efforts has potential for a poor solution.

Successful organizations are not only efficient and effective,they also must be ________.

According to Kurt Lewin,increasing the driving forces,which directs behaviour away from the status quo,is a means of doing which of the following?