Question

increased and restraining forces that should be reduced or discussion of the potential consequences of changing these driving and restrainde forces and the potential for unexpected resuls ll a CASE 8.1 New Database Software Lupe Mendoza spotted Cecilia Hunter at the other side of the cafeteria and walked over to sit down at her table. Lupe said, "Have you heard the latest? We're going to change database sofrware." Cecilia said, "Who told you that? This isn't another of those rumors, is it? Ive just recovered from the last change in sofrware." ion. Lupe said, "I have a friend, Joanne Branson, who used to work in this sect e moved over to corporate procurement a couple of years ago. Anyway, last week she saw contracts for new database software." Just then Martin Cowan and Greg Youngblood walked up to the table. Cecilia said, "Have you heard that we're changing database sofrware again?" Martin groaned, "Not again! I've still got a few files that I haven't converted from the previous software. Most of us have only recently learned the present sofrware well enough to feel comfortable. How are we going to learn all of this new stuff while we take on these new accounts from the merger?" Greg said, "I heard about this new software from a friend whose company implemented it last fall. It's so complex that it takes almost a year to really learn it well. In fact, at my friend's company a couple of people quit their jobs because of the software. Lupe said, "This is going to be a disaster. The last time we switched software the whole system was messed up for months. The worst problem was when we found errors in the conversion and people had to go back and trace through the data to do corrections. As the four of them walked back to their office they ran into their boss, Tommy Lance. Martin said, "We've heard rumors that we're going to change database software. Are they true?" Tommy said, "I had hoped to keep this quiet until I could announce the change to everyone at once. Yes, it's true. The new software is much more powerful than what we're currently using, and it has new features that will really help us in the future. Besides, we're getting a good price on the software because we'll be among the first in our industry to make the changeover." Lupe said, "But isn't it bad to be among the first to use new software? Dont some companies like to let other companies experiment first and then adopt it after rs that everything works okay?" appea Martin said,"Lupe's right. One of our old vice presidents who left for a big romotion said that it's better to be safely behind the leading edge of information technology. One of the wags around here likes to say we're on the bleeding edge technology." Tommy said, This isn' leading edge sofware. I's been out for a year now and lots of companies in other industries are using it. We need to get on with the change and quit dragging our heels. This software will be the new standard and of

Answer 1

1. The main reasons behind he resistance of Tommy’s employees to accept the software change are:

• They were still recovering from the transition process of the previous software change
• The time gap between the two changes is very small
• Every employee has inhibitions about the new software
• The lack of awareness about the objective and advantages of the change is making them fall prey to assumptions and rumors
• Lack of transparency in the change process

2. The change could have been managed more efficiently if the management had clearly communicated the objective of the change to the employees. Tommy needed to conduct an open house where he could have made the formal announcement regarding the software change. In this meeting, the strategy team and Tommy could have addressed all the queries and inhibitions regarding the change. The tea could have highlighted the features of the new system and its advantages over the old one. This way, the management could have aligned the employees in direction of the software change and the transition could have been easy and successful.

3. Tommy must create awareness about the new system. This will put an end to all the rumors and inhibitions about the new system. His team must lay out a strategic process to have a gradual transition of the software change. This will help in minimizing errors in the transition process. Adequate resources must be made available to the employees to help them accept and adapt to the change. Training sessions and workshops must be conducted to educate the employees about the operational usage of the new software.

4. Tommy might have wanted to escape the inhibition and criticism of the employees towards the new system. The previous change was not smooth and so he might be expecting greater resistance to the new change by the employees. For these reasons, he might have not involved the employees in the decision regarding the change.