Managing+Change

== =Examples of changes to ICT working practices which require change managements,kh= =What are the 4 main areas of consideration when dealing with change management?= Good Management of change will help to get rid of any of these fears = = = = =How can the change be managed effectively?= Change within an organisation can be managed effectivly and efficiently by following these 6 simple steps:
 * **New System** (For example upgrading a hand written system to a computerised system)
 * 1) Improve speeds (system performance)
 * 2) Reduce cost
 * 3) Improve Quality
 * **Strategic business decision** (To keep up with the competition)
 * 1) Improve competitiveness
 * 2) Diversify
 * **Skills Of Employee's**
 * 1) Training for employee's
 * 2) Cost of the training
 * 3) Increase / Decrease motivation? Staff may not wish to be re-trained and the idea of having to undergo training may de-motivate them. However learning new skills may also give them a feeling of worth and make them more motivated.
 * **Organisational Structure**
 * 1) Redundancies - New software can do the jobs of some employee's which would lead to redundancies.
 * 2) New Jobs - New systems may require new employee's. For example the company moves into the online shopping market, and would need to employ staff to do this.
 * **Work Patterns**
 * 1) Teleworking (Working from home)
 * 2) Telecommuting (Working on the go, from anywhere)
 * 3) Who would it benefit? This could benefit employeers as it gives them much more freedom with how they work and what hours they are working.
 * 4) Who would it not benefit? This would not benefit some workers who cant work from home, for example a Chef at a restaraunt.
 * **Workforce Fears**
 * 1) Job security (Fears about loosing thier jobs)
 * 2) Dont like new technology (May not know how to use it or be competant ict users)
 * 3) Concerns with system reliability (Fears over loosing data)
 * 4) Concerns over the effects of pay (May thier job requirements be reduced by the new ict systems, leading to a reduction in pay)
 * 1) **Research** - Look at other organisations to see what has worked, and what hasnt with them
 * 2) **Design** - Look at the design of a new system
 * 3) **Cost / Benefit Analysis** - Look at the positives and negatives of a new system to ensure that it is worthwhile
 * 4) **Consultation** - Advise and feedback externally and internally will help give the organisations an idea of how the new system may work
 * 5) **Implementation** - Start to put together the system
 * 6) **Monitor / Evaluate** - Take feedback from staff about what is working / what might not work so well to ensure that the system is working efficiently

=Exam Question:=

An organisation has introduced new ICT systems. These systems have had a great impact upon employee opportunities and the way in which people work within the organisation.

> > **b. Discuss in detail the impact these new ICT systems could have upon //jobs// and //work patterns//. Illustrate your answers with three distinctly different examples in each case. (6)** > New ict systems could lead to an increase in jobs available for a company, for example if they chose to introduce a website for the business then they will require a web designer, and web administrator. However it could also lead to a decrease in the number of employees that a firm needs, if the new system is able to automatically do the jobs of some of the employees. I would like a little more detail here in terms of what will happen to the employees that are no longer needed & an example to illustrate your point. **This would lead the the employees losing thier jobs and being forced to find work elsewhere.** This would make the jobs for the employee's much easier as they could rely on the computer systems to do many of the jobs that they would normally have to do themselves. How would this make the employees feel about their jobs (again, just a little more detail). **The employee's would have much less work to do which althought might be good for them as thier jobs are easier, it may have an impact on pay which they would not want.** New ICT systems may also allow employees to work from home with teleworking if they have the facilities to do so, for example they have a computer with an internet connection so that they can connect to the companies information online, this would mean that they would save time on travel and also same money with fuel costs, and office space. (Nic) excellent revisions which take the answer up to full marks. > > Files: > Summary: > > > Class Presentation: > > > Exam Questions: > > > **Exam Questions:** > > **Explain what is meant by the term "managment of change" (2 marks)** > Management of change is the way in which employee's management handle change within a business to make changes in ICT run smoothly, they will have to consider the skills of the employee's, the orginisational structure, the work patterns of the business and any workforce fears which some of the employee's may have. (Nic) A good attempt Nic which would get you the 2 marks - the official definition is "How managers deal with thechanges to working practices, organisational structure and worries of the workforce that come from the implementation of a new ICT system" > > **Describe and give examples of three things that managers can do to alleviate any worries staff have about the introduction of a new ICT system (6 marks).** > They should research into the new system to ensure that it is the best system for the company, f or example, they should look at consultation with external and internal parties to help gain a better understanding on what the new system will be able to offer aswell as how it may work. Good ** - they should also consult with the employees though, to alleviate their worries (this is the focus of the question) & give an example here as to how they could do this. They should also perhaps phase the system in, so that it was piloted with a small group of employees who had the opportunity to feedback to the managment any concerns they may have and review the system as necessary. **Once the new system has been designed and implemented they should also evaluate its performance to ensure that it is doing what they wanted and take feedback from the people who are using it to make sure that it is doing what the need and that tey are happy with it, and then any feedback which they give can be acted on to put the system right. (Nic) A good answer Nic, just a little more detail in the middle to get the full marks (currently 4)
 * a. Discuss three potential //health issues// which might occur with the introduction of these new ICT systems and describe measures the organisation could take to prevent them. (6)**
 * 1) Increased time spent looking at the monitors, this could lead to eye strian. The company should allow the users to take regular breaks from their work to allow them to look away from the screens, they could also fit anti-glare screens, to help prevent any problems. Excellent examples & therefore detail; well done.
 * 2) RSI could become an issue if users are repeating the same tasks over and over again, however this could be prevented by taking regular breaks and mixing what tasks the user is doing to avoid repeating the same tasks again and again. Again, good answer.
 * 3) Increased amount of cabling for the new system could become a health hazard if they are in dangerous positions where people may be likely to trip on them, the company should ensure that all cabling is secure and out of sight to avoid it becoming a tripping hazard. (Nic) Again, good point & detail - full marks here 6/6 - well done.