8.1.1 In what areas of the organisation can managers expect change?
The areas for change generally fall into one of four general categories: structure, technology, people or culture.
In your text
Bartol, K M; Martin, D C; Tein, M H and Matthews, G W (2001),
pages 252-256.Consider this
Think back to our articles on the Fremantle Port Authority and the components as outlined in your textbook. The story of the Fremantle Port Authority is a good example of the type of change that is occurring in all industries.
Pursuing 'tried and true' methods is, in general, no longer an option in business. What happened last year provides, at best, a guide only to what might work this year. Managers must be ready to modify their actions in response to what is happening in the organisation or the marketplace.
Their ability to identify and distinguish between situations that require change and situations that do not ranks high among the skills required to be an effective manager. Managing for change requires the ability to consider what might be around the corner.
Given that most issues and pressures for change will originate from the external environment, it is important that a manager understands the forces operating in the external environment and the implications that these forces have for operations. This was discussed in Chapter 2. Here we will focus more clearly on why the pace of change has accelerated. As you work your way through the chapter keep in mind these general questions:
- What sorts of pressure will this accelerated rate of change force upon organisations, particularly in relation to the maritime transport industry and your own organisation?
- How might different employees react to the change? Why?
- Think back to the previous chapter on organisational design. How will organisations be organised to accommodate the faster pace of change and development?
- How will organisations manage and/or contain the costs, both human and financial, of such change processes?