BSNS5004 Change and Innovation Assessment 3

Learning Outcomes

1. Apply the practices and processes relevant to organisational change and innovation.

3. Examine personal and interpersonal skills that contribute to organisational change and innovation.

Instructions

Complete and submit your assessment according to the Open Polytechnic’s Assessments webpage. This includes information on academic integrity, formatting, word limits and referencing.

• Include your name, student number and the assessment number.
• Number your pages.

Submission

• Submit your assessment in one file.
• Submit your work through your iQualify course.
• Emailed assessments will not be accepted.
• You will receive an automated notice advising you of your successful submission.

By submitting your assessment, you confirm that it is your own original work.

Overview

In this assessment, you will examine personal and interpersonal skills that contribute to organisational change and innovation using the information in the following scenario:

We return to the Countrywide Farm Solutions (CFS) case from Assessment 2. Following the Waikato trial of the Harvest time recording system, the company has decided to move all of the CFS work over to the Harvest system, including automation to payroll and some accounting and reporting, reducing the time and cost needed on the current payroll and accounting functions.

Based on the trial, there are clear cost savings to be made in internal administrative functions as well as external accounting costs. There is also the potential for more value- added service delivery to CFS customers and new business.

Despite the clear financial success of the trial, the trial has not been without some problems. While most of the employees and contractors were able to quickly work with the new system, a few long-term staff have struggled with the new technology, which has resulted in some apprehension from some of the wider consultants. Some of the admin support staff are also unsure what the change would mean for their jobs and the extent of changes to some of their work. Getting their feedback will be critical, and Shaun and Rangi do not want to lose anyone as a result of the changes.

There have also been some coverage issues in rural and remote areas. Shaun and Rangi want the change to happen as soon as possible so that a positive report can be tabled to the Board, which has to approve a major capital expense on formally commissioning the system and are concerned that there is insufficient time to show an agreed plan for the change before the next Board meeting. They are keenly anticipating a detailed plan.

Shaun and Rangi have been asked to provide a detailed report to the Board on the proposed plan for the Harvest rollout across the business and have asked you to assist.

You may make reasonable assumptions to support your answers as long as your reasoning is clearly explained to support the assumption.

Task 1: Identifying change factors

Identify three factors on which the success of the change to the Harvest time recording system depends. Explain each factor and how it impacts the proposed change.

(Word count guideline: 250 words)
(15 marks)

Task 2: Personal skills for supporting change

Discuss how any three personal skills could be applied to any of the directors or staff during the implementation of the change to the Harvest time recording system. Discuss how each skill can support the change.

(Word count guideline: 250 words)
(15 marks)

Task 3: Interpersonal skills for managing resistance to change

a. Identify and briefly explain three possible challenges to managing stakeholder engagement during the change to the Harvest time recording system.

b. Discuss a way to overcome each challenge, by referring to the six approaches to reducing resistance to change and ensuring a distinct approach to overcome each challenge.

(Word count guideline: 500 words)
(30 marks)

Task 4: Communicating the change

Provide Shaun and Rangi with a formal communication plan for stakeholder engagement that will support the introduction of the Harvest time recording system at CFS.

In your plan, ensure you identify and cover.

•  stakeholders/intended audience
• specific concerns of stakeholders
  o position of each stakeholder in the change process
  o goals and reasons for the change
  o mode of communication and channel
• responsibility
• timing.

(Word count guideline: 500 words)
(30 marks)