This model of change introduction and management is concerned with three different steps which the managers of an organization should take special care of. This model is based on three different stages namely unfreezing, changing and refreezing steps which are explained in detail for shifting from manual accounting activities to an automated or online accounting system .
The first phase or stage in Lewin’s 3-Step Model concerns “unfreezing” of old way of thinking and behaviour about manual accounting system before any change is introduced. Unfreezing must be done because managers who have been using manual accounting system for more than seventy years will resist the introduction of change in form of online accounting system. This resistance may hinder the success of implementation of online system. In this unfreezing stage, managers must inform all employees and gain their confidence before the online system is implemented. Managers should demonstrate how this imminent change would benefit all employees, their productivity and organization as a whole .
After employees are unfrozen from their old ways of thinking and beliefs about manual system, it is time that change, online accounting system, must be implemented organization wide. Here, managers should get all employees learn new concepts, processes, behaviours and ways of thinking. At this second stage of “changing” in Lewin’s 3-Step Model, employees should be periodically reminded about reason for implementing online accounting system and its benefits at large.
The third step in Lewin’s 3-Step Model is “refreezing” the new change about online accounting system is solidified, stabilized and reinforced for permanent adoption throughout the workplace. Here, managers should ensure that employees, not in any way, are reverting back to old system of manual accounting and resisting the use of online accounting system at this stage. In other words, managers should ensure that change management efforts are not lost. Instead, the use of online accounting system is cemented into the business’s corporate culture.
References
Liu, X., Akram, S., & Bouguettaya, A. (2011). Change Management for Semantic Web Services. Springer Science & Business Media.
Minja, D., & Barine, K. A. (2012). Transformational Corporate Leadership. Andrews UK Limited.
