Management by Objective
Management by Objective
The case in point involves one of the largest American multinational retail corporations Wall Mart. The company operates a chain of hypermarkets and discount department stores and actively develops e-commerce. Upon decision of new CEO, whose goal is a sustainable organization, it has should start to change. The initial step was to integrate the Corporate Social Responsibility Program. In the current paper change management process will be developed and described for effective implementation of this program.
First of all, let us define Social Responsibility concept and its realization in business. According to business sources being socially responsible means that “people and organizations must behave ethically and with sensitivity toward social, cultural, economic and environmental issues” (What is Social Responsibility? n.d. ). Business News Daily speaks of corporate social responsibility as a business practice that involves participating in initiatives that benefit society and considers it to be a key to winning over consumers in current competitive market (Taylor, 2015).
Social Responsibility Program of a multinational retailer will be realized in a number of targeted activities in social, environmental and product quality and cultural areas.
According to Management by Objectives principles the specific time-framed goals have been determined to achieve tangible changes in each of these areas.
Hiring and supporting veterans: Develop a program on assigning 9 % of work positions to veterans by MOY. Implement the program by EOY.
Reducing waste throughout operations globally: Develop a recycling program by MOY. Implement the program globally to decrease waste by 25% by EOY.
Responsible sourcing: Develop a new quality suppliers standard by MOY. Revise all suppliers and implement the new standard globally by EOY.
Supporting local communities: Develop a new program of local community organizations support by MOY. Increase the amount of grants to local community organizations by 10% by EOY.
In developing change management plan we will apply one of the basic models for implementing organization change introduced by Kurt Lewin in 1950s. The model can be shortly described as “Unfreeze, Change, Refreeze”. The plan below describes the general steps for implementing changes required to achieve each of the listed goals.
“Unfreeze” stage
Determine what needs to be changed by auditing current processes and results, comparing them to target processes and results, identifying the gap.
Ensure there is a sponsorship of top management in introducing the change: discuss the audit results, explain importance, describe the support required.
Develop and communicate throughout the organization a compelling message explaining the need for change, the benefit for a company and employees, supported by the results of abovementioned audit.
Create new standard procedures or amend existing ones, reflect the processes change.
“Change” stage
Introduce new working procedures to employees and contractors, deliver trainings to employees and contractors, ensure that new procedures are internalized by people.
Make sure that employees and contractors apply new procedures.
Organize regular meetings with middle-management to support their efforts in engaging employees to make change, to address any related issues.
Provide constant open communication on process change and their effect on employees.
“Refreeze” stage
Amend the organizational structures as necessary if required.
Fix the new processes in company foundational documents: policies, job descriptions, contracts, etc.
Celebrate the success of change with employees.
In conclusion it should be mentioned that, like in any change management processes, the stated plan will work only on condition of effectively organized internal and external communication and strong management support. Therefore, the importance of quality communication materials shouldn’t be underestimated, especially for such type of a program which implies social impact.
References
Lewin’s change management model.(n.d.). Mindtools. Retrieved on April 16, 2016 from https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newPPM_94.htm
Taylor N.F.(2015, June 19). What is Corporate Social Responsibility? Business News Daily. Retrieved on April 16, 2016 from http://www.businessnewsdaily.com/4679-corporate-social-responsibility.html
Thomson, T. M. (1998). Management by Objectives. The Pfeiffer Library Volume 20, 2nd Edition.© JosseyBass/Pfeiffer, p. 1-4.
What is Social Responsibility? (n.d.). Naomi Enevoldson – Social Entrepreneur. Retrieved on April 16, 2016 from http://www.imasocialentrepreneur.com/social-responsibility/
