Introduction
Change is inevitable; organizations should adopt relevant changes to compete effectively with other businesses. Initiating change in various organizational aspects can lead to tremendous benefits such as quality improvement, low labor turnover, good corporate image, and high revenue. Fine-tuning is one of the best organizational change characteristics because it pertains to positive alteration of strategies, policies, people, processes, and structures (Thill & Bovee, 2017). The fine-tuning change establishes personnel fit for the current company strategy, develops the specialist unit, and refines procedures, policies, and link mechanisms. Considering the benefit of organizational change, I believe that our company should initiate fine-tuning change in all its aspects to foster group and individual commitment to organizational excellence, just like I witnessed from the previous company that I worked for, Toyota Group. The management of the Toyota Group undertook radical changes in its activities, such as adopting advanced technology, introducing contingent working patterns, and transforming company products. Since our organization also deals with manufacturing electrical equipment, senior management should instruct change by acquiring new production methods, changing manufacturing processes, and product branding. Despite increasing the organization's competitiveness, undertaking fine-tuning change in all aspects of the organization will lead to manufacturing standard commodities, enhancing employee morale, reducing unnecessary overhead costs, and creating a better organization reputation.
Changing the Manufacturing Process of the Company
The company should change its manufacturing process from traditional to modern by using advanced manufacturing technologies. To realize the process change, the senior management should acquire some of the advanced technologies used in the manufacturing process, just like the Toyota Group. First, the organization should introduce the use of Autonomous Robots that have sensors and standardized interfaces. Having the machines will help the firm manufacture items at a smaller scale and increase their ability to improve quality. The second machine is the digital manufacturing/ virtualization technology, enabling the organization to save money and time by optimizing the layout of a factory and automatically identifying and correcting flaws in every stage of the production process. The management can also acquire Additive Manufacturing, also known as 3-D printing, to create three-dimensional objects based on digital models.
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Adopting a Well-Written Work Procedures
Additionally, there is a need to eliminate the use of old and ambiguous procedures and policies. The managers should adopt well-written practices and guidelines to help employees understand their responsibilities and roles within predefined limits. The guidelines should entail all the accountability issues that are important to the organization, such as legal liabilities, health and safety, and regulatory requirements (Thill & Bovee, 2017). The organization is currently using old policies; they hinder employees from comprehending their work procedure because they use the trial and error approach. The trial and error method brings confusion and friction in the workplace since workers do not clearly understand their individual and team responsibilities, therefore costing the company in terms of time and resources. A well-defined procedure will enable the managers to exercise control by exception instead of 'micro-managing the workforce. Enforcing written work procedures will also provide legal protection to the organization in court issues.
Changing the Features of the Company Products to Meet Customers' Expectations
Despite the fact the organizational products are profitable, appreciated by clients, and long-established, there is still a need to change them to meet changing conditions and customer requirements. The senior management should redesign its products from traditional components to new and advanced features that can provide practical solutions to demands that clients want (Buchanan & Huczynski, 2019). The firm needs to understand customer's demands and adapt to meeting their changing needs. The products that the organization supply currently only solve yesterday's problems are required to produce commodities that solve today's problems. Due to continual change in demand, the current consumers expect to have phones and computers that satisfy their needs. It is wise for the management to add high-security features, quick internet speed, and long battery life that are desirable and suitable characteristics to meet evolving customer demands. Therefore, there is a need to adopt improved production methods and quality materials to achieve the results. The company should also diversify the commodities in aspects such as color, texture, branding, and packaging.
Changing People by Adopting the New Work Patterns
Managers need to change employees' attitudes and behavior and how they do their work. The organization should move from the traditional way of work and adopt flexible work patterns to reduce operational costs. Senior managers need to start introducing practices like job sharing, job rotation, shift working, part-time working, teleworking, and overtime work (Van der Voet et al., 2016). To effectively change employees' state quo, it is important to treat employees rightfully to avoid resistance. The management should create a work environment and culture where workers have the power to advocate change. The administration should have a plan to involve all people, including stakeholders, process owners, and employees, to effectively meet the changes in certain stages like learning, planning, decisions, and implementation. Furthermore, it is appropriate to outline a possible negative consequence for those opposing the difference, especially after allowing some time for workers to pass through the predictable stages of change. The effects will prevent the naysayers from continuing on their negative path forever because their resistance may cost the organization in terms of focus, energy, and time.
Changing from Traditional to Contemporary Organizational Structure
There is a need to move from the traditional structure and adopt a modern organizational structure that eliminates employees' departmental boundaries. My previous company's contemporary design was beneficial because it pushes employees to pursue corporate objectives. A current system facilitates a flow of communication; it also has clear rules on delegation, thus helping the company achieve a competitive advantage in the long run (Benzer et al., 2017). A modern design will facilitate the attainment of objectives through better coordination of all operations within the business. The contemporary structure enables my previous organization to manage the conflict between workers over jurisdiction and eliminate duplication and overlapping common in the workplace. Besides, the traditional format currently used does not facilitate personnel promotions because it lacks a chart that openly pinpoints the duties and qualifications of people.
An Arguments That Persuade the Senior Management to Initiate a Change
In light of the discussion, the managers need to introduce change in all the identified areas. For instance, having modern technologies will benefit the organization because they are highly flexible, cost-efficient, and data-enabled. Using them can help boost productivity in various ways. First, the technologies will dramatically increase flexibility because it enables the organization to incorporate clients and produce quality commodities using clients' specifications. The flexibility will allow the firm to create small batches for specific clients, alter manufacturing lines when responding to design changes, and even increase the production speed to meet additional demand by generating prototypes quickly. Using advanced technological processes can enhance innovation because manufacturers can develop new kinds of products, unlike conventional approaches (Banutu, 2016). Also, technologies will make the organization comply with the environmental laws because they often consume fewer raw materials and generate less scrap, thus improving safety.
Subsequently, having a well-written work procedure will enable the managers to guide activities without constant management intervention, thus eliminating operating expenses that may detract from profitability. The written policies will help the employees to understand the plan of action required to meet the company's aims (Stouten & De Cremer, 2018). Having a well-written work procedure helps eliminate frequent misunderstandings because the document will outline the job responsibilities and outlay boundaries for the employees. Besides, changing the systems will allow management to control activities in advance, thus preventing the firm from making costly mistakes. Subsequently, adopting a well-defined policy will guide accepted business objectives and strategies. The new guidelines will enable the management to identify basic activities and provide a general plan to other stakeholders on handling issues as they arise.
Also, changing the features of the phones and computers that the company manufactures will help in increasing the commodity's acceptance because the consumers will vividly see the new benefit of the product. The differentiation will enhance brand loyalty, growth, and sales. The differentiation should focus not only on the usage but also on essential elements such as quality, customer service, packaging, price, and overall client experience when using the commodity. For instance, the senior management can create an online tool to help potential buyers customize their products by choosing the included component (Buchanan & Huczynski, 2019). To realize the aim of the product change, the organization can manufacture few products in the initial stage and distribute them as samples to potential buyers. The pieces will help managers to get suggestions and compliments from the consumer.
Adopting the modern patterns will help the organization reduce overheads and office running costs such as heating and electricity. Travel-related issues will also be significantly reduced because of the practical arrangements. Employees also will be able to work in a comfortable environment, especially those working from home (Van der Voet et al., 2016). Also, the organization will improve productivity because it will be in full-time operation due to shift arrangements. Involving employees allows them to share the information amongst themselves, thus facilitating the acceptance stage. The effective method to incorporate all the employees is to unite them at the departmental level. The purpose will enable them to participate in the identification of the impact of decisions on their job. It is also vital to build measurement systems into the change process to inform workers on whether they are succeeding with the change or failing.
Additionally, the modern structure will aid the management in issues like salary and wage administration. Also, it will simplify the communication at all levels of organizational hierarchy and reduce confusion that is currently prevalent because it has a well-defined line and flow of authority on the organizational chart (Benzer et al., 2017). Adopting the modern structure will allow the firm to have a sound basis for efficient strategic planning. It permits making changes in the right direction, such as expansion and contraction of facilities, operations, and activities when necessary. Lastly, the structure will encourage creativity in the workplace since employees will experience a high sense of belonging, enabling them to create their initiative and innovation spirit.
Conclusion
In light of the numerous advantages of introducing fine-tuning change, the senior management needs to undertake radical changes in all aspects of the organization to improve competitiveness. The change will make the organization eliminate the use of obsolescence technology and acquire advanced methods. It will enhance the morale of the workforce due to the introduction of flexible patterns. The change will also improve productivity and communication due to the use of modern structures. Adopting new practices will enable the organization to produce high-standard commodities and promote customers' loyalty, just like my previous organization.
References
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Benzer, J. K., Charns, M. P., Hamdan, S., & Afable, M. (2017). The role of organizational structure in readiness for change: A conceptual integration. Health service management research , 30(1), 34-46. https://doi.org/10.1177/0951484816682396
Buchanan, D. A., & Huczynski, A. A. (2019). Organizational Behavior . Pearson UK.
Stouten, J., Rousseau, D. M. & De Cremer, D. Successful organizational change: Integrating the management practice and scholarly literature. Academy of Management Annals , 12(2), 752-788. https://doi.org/10.5465/annals.2016.0095
Thill, J. V., & Bovee, C. L. (2017). Business Communication Today . Pearson. https://www.pearson.com/store/p/business-communication-today/P10000252006
Van der Voet, J., Kuipers, B. S., & Groeneveld, S. (2016). Implementing change in a public organization: The relationship between leadership and practical commitment to change in a public sector context. Public Management Review, 18(6), 842-865. https://doi.org/10.1080/14719037.2015.1045020
