Knowing the Key Change Categories

Name: Knowing the Key Change Categories
Author: Rhonda Tenenbaum

Learn to differentiate between adaptive, transitional, and transformational change and gain insights into how to effectively implement them

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What are the key change categories of organizational change management? There are three: adaptive, transitional and transformational change. Let's take a closer look at each of them. When a company comes to the decision to remove a product from the market it's usually because interest has faded causing a drop in sales to the point where the product is no longer turning a profit. In that case, the company may not be willing to spend any more money to keep that product on the shelves. If the company eliminates the product, this is considered an organizational change. When companies realize that something is no longer working and their current operational strategies are outdated, if not obsolete, they accept the need for organizational change. It's also at this point the companies determine the intensity, size and type of change they want to initiate. A company removing a product from the market is an example of adaptive change, a minor organizational change. Like its name implies, it involves adapting to a certain situation in order to resolve it. Adaptive change simply aims to make an improvement over a current method or procedure. Its goal is to enhance a skill for the benefit of the company and employees. Adaptive change is carried out in increments. The company creates a strategy for what it wants to accomplish and applies the process in steps, instead of all at once. That way change can be easily absorbed. For example, to remove a product from the market you would need to determine how many units are available in retail stores, as well as in e-commerce environments. You'd have to decide whether or not to offer coupons or discounts prior to the product's discontinuation, how and when to extract the product from the market and what to do with the leftover inventory. Another common example of adaptive change is when a company decides to upgrade its computer operating system. Perhaps the company has been using an older operating system and has decided that it can no longer efficiently conduct operations without an upgrade. To roll out this minor conversion, management would create a strategy that determines who in the IT department would be responsible for this task, the order in which each department will undergo the upgrade and what the timeframe will be for making this upgrade. While adaptive change allows companies to move forward without experiencing any substantial downtime, it also has an advantage over other types of organizational change in that the change can always be tweaked or fine tuned. If for example, a department had its operating software upgraded two years ago, but now it needs another upgrade that department might get the green light to do so, depending on its needs, while the other departments can still maintain the status quo without a second upgrade.

Intermediate Provider : Rhonda Tenenbaum 2 Lessons · 8m in Arabic, German, English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Chinese

Course Description

Change is inevitable for any company, which is why it is important that business leaders understand how to properly implement change within their organization. Whether large or small, change can disrupt day-to-day operations when it is poorly managed. Knowing how to implement effective change strategies and maintain them can help minimize disruptions and ensure a smooth transition during periods of change. This includes understanding the different types of organizational change and how to create change initiatives that align with organizational goals.

In this course on Knowing the Key Change Categories, you will learn about the key change categories of organizational change management. We will also discuss how to adapt to external forces, such as technology, competition, or the economy, that challenge your company's status and capabilities. By the end of this course, you will know how to effectively navigate and manage change for positive growth.

Learning Objectives

What You'll Learn

Explain the importance of adaptive, transitional, and transformational change
Recognize how to adapt to change brought about by external forces such as technology, competition, or the economy
Apply adaptive change to make minor organizational modifications
Distinguish between transitional and transformational change
Create change initiatives that align with organizational goals
Implement effective change strategies that minimize disruptions during periods of transition

Key Takeaways

Change is inevitable for any company, so business leaders must understand how to properly implement it within their organization.
Whether large or small, poorly managed change can disrupt day-to-day operations.
Knowing how to implement and maintain effective change strategies helps minimize disruptions and ensure a smooth transition.
Effective change management includes understanding the different types of organizational change and creating initiatives that align with organizational goals.
Companies must adapt to external forces such as technology, competition, or the economy that challenge their status and capabilities.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is this course for?

It is for business leaders who need to understand how to properly implement and manage change within their organization.

What does this course cover?

It covers the key change categories of organizational change management, including adaptive, transitional, and transformational change, and how to adapt to external forces such as technology, competition, or the economy.

What will I be able to do by the end of the course?

You will know how to effectively navigate and manage change for positive growth, including adapting to change brought about by external forces and improving the workplace by implementing adaptive changes.

What lessons are included?

The course includes two lessons: Adaptive Change for Minor Organizational Modifications, and Transitional and Transformational Change.

Why is managing change important?

Because change is inevitable and, whether large or small, can disrupt day-to-day operations when poorly managed; effective change strategies help minimize disruptions and ensure a smooth transition.

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KnowledgeCity is approved by SHRM as a Recertification General Provider to offer SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP professional development credits (PDCs). By taking the courses approved by SHRM, KnowledgeCity can award SHRM Professional Development Credits (PDCs) for HR knowledge and competency programs related to the SHRM Body of Applied Skills and Knowledge™ (the SHRM BASK™).