Change Process Management Case Study: Baskin Robbins

Change Process Management Case Study: Baskin Robbins There are many definitions of change. Change can bring meaning to cause to become different or to alter or convert. Change can also mean to undergo alteration or replacement or to pass from one phase to another. Change has always been a necessity in an organization. People react, respond and adjust themselves to the change. Some people in the organization may resist change from happening, and some will follow without protest. Below is the basic cycle of change where people behave when changes take place. From the above, we can say that when changes take place in an organization, there will be denial, emotions, resistance, and acceptance towards the changes. Denial is where the leaders who want to make changes communicate the 5Ws and H that is who, when, where, what, why and how. Changes must also be communicated through various formats so that every people in the organization can aware of the changes. Examples are like email, newspapers, and television, besides using notice board in the organization. In this stage, leader must also state mutual benefits while acknowledging risks. Emotion is the stage where people react when they heard about the changes. A leader must accept that emotion is part of the human condition and they must acknowledge people’s feelings. Emotions can be in term of happy, sad, angry, calm, and others. Leaders must invite feedback from the people around the organization and accommodate their requests, postpone or explain obstacles. Resistance is where people refuse to change. It is a neutral concept and is best dealt with by respecting it, rather than downplaying, avoiding or suppressing it. People usually don’t resist change, but they resist pain or the possibility of pain. They are afraid of the unknown, for example, whether they will be fired, promoted, or even step down from their current position. Acceptance happens when people have no other choice other than accept the changes made by the organization. In this stage, the leader must hold whatever they have achieved or accomplished in the negotiation. They must also follow up all promises they made before implementing changes and reward and recognize the behaviour change when necessary. For example, if the organization promises to give bonuses to the employees that give their best in performance, the leader must make sure that the employees get what they deserve. Below is the illustration of 8 steps of change cycle. This change cycle can be illustrated as an action plan by Baskin Robbins to implement the necessary changes for the organization. The first step in the change process is performance gap. Performance gap means when there is a lack of performance from one organization, and then changes will take place. Based on Baskin Robbins, their mission is to make the Baskin Robbins neighbourhood store a tasty, fun place for our customers. Nowadays, Baskin Robbins has good customer service, online service, quality product and the others. Based on this performance, Baskin Robbins can provide a delivery good services online as a company changes. This changes can satisfy the customer need and wants, it also makes the customer happy in the future. The second step in the cycle of change is to identify a designed future where the changes are made to make sure the organization have a better prospect. In this step, Burt Baskin and Irv Robbins as the owner of Baskin Robbins for sure plan to expand their product to the nationwide in the future. To expand it, the organization should make all the people know about their product, they can provide the delivery online service to the customer and perform better in future. More and more customers prefer buying goods and services on the internet as it provides greater flexibility, speed and choice. As a result, organisations are adding more and more content to their websites, which is fuelling the customers thirst for knowledge. From there, recognize the need for making the changes in the organization. More and more customers prefer buying goods and services on the internet as it provides greater flexibility, speed and choice. As a result, organisations are adding more and more content to their websites, which is fuelling the customers thirst for knowledge. After recognizing the need for making the changes we can then go to the fourth step, which is problem diagnosis. This is where the manager will have to evaluate and understand the problem that the company faces which requires changes. For example, the problem in the company is due to unsatisfied employees such as not on time delivery, wrong delivery places, wrong delivery products and others. In this case, managers need to understand why employees are not satisfied and come out with several ways or methods to solve the problem. The fifth step in the change process is to seek environment alternatives, where managers have to find other alternatives to solve the problem. For example, rather than fire the unsatisfied employees which bring troubles to the company, managers can help the employees to understand the environment of the organization and make them comfortable. From the available alternatives, the manager will have to make a selection or seeking the alternative selection. After selecting the appropriate alternative to solve the problem, the manager will then carries out the plan or implement some action to solve the problem. The action may affect the organization. Whether the implementation is a success or not, managers have to evaluate the outcome of the action they have taken in making the changes. This is the last step in the change process. This is where managers will see whether the outcome or results match with the purpose of the change. Usually, when the company is going through the process of changes, there will be resistance among the members of the organization. This may be caused by their self-interest where they afraid on how the changes will give impact to them. Besides that, people resist changes because of lack of trust and they often feel comfortable with the old ways the organization has operated. The change cycle is the process that can be implemented for all organizations that want to make changes in the organization’s management. For overcoming the resistance to change, there are several methods that Baskin Robbins, who is in charged to implement the change, can take to make sure that the process runs smoothly. First is to educate and communicate with the members of the organization about the changes that they will go through. For example, Baskin Robbins must give enough information and ensure the change is clearly communicated to those it affects. This way, members of the organization can prepare themselves for the changes that will affect them. The second way to overcome the resistance to change is ensuring the participation and involvement of all members of the organization. For example, when there are meetings or activities held by the organization for the changes process, the managers must ensure that all members participate and involve in the activities and make them comfortable with the new changes. Thirdly is by negotiating and make an agreement. Negotiation is where there is an understanding dialogue or meeting between two parties, for example, the organization that want to implement changes and the members or employees. After these two parties have negotiated, they will come to an agreement between the unions and organization. In conclusion, the change cycle process can help the Baskin Robbins to make changes in the organization. When there are changes, there will be resistance by those who don’t want to come out from their comfort zone. Leadership in a change process involves helping people accept the current realities and make effective choices. One can then be helpful in assisting them in taking responsibility for pursuing these choices. However, Baskin Robbins may make the changes at any time because there is no perfect time to make changes in the organization.

Mind and Citadel Essay

Masculinity is the properties characteristic of the male sex. Characteristics include strength, toughness, brutality and many more. All of which are the characteristics of the boys who attended The Citadel in hopes of leaving the school as men. Susan Faludi, author of The Naked Citadel, writes about the problems within the prestigious school, the major problem, being sexism. The Citadel’s problem can be almost clearly supported by Malcom Gladwell’s Power of Context argument from his book the Tipping Point. The militaristic environment at the Citadel changes each cadet’s character into an extreme emotionally ruined version of who they once were. These changes turn into violence in the extreme. Perception is the key to many disagreements within society. This holds true in the situation that affects The Citadel. When a girl, Shannon Faulkner, applies to be the first female admitted to the Cadet Corps. She attempts to mess with the system by leaving out her gender. The perception at the Citadel is that women would not be a good fit in the school. Tradition has a major part with this. It is apparent that Shannon’s entrance to the Citadel has proven to become a threat to the Citadel community since it is an all-male institution, intended to train real men. The Citadel has always been an all boy school as â€Å"except of course, they weren’t really boys at all. These were college men† (Faludi 78). Who’s to say however that they are in fact men? What defines a man? Within the society a man is expected to think, act and live in a masculine manner. Showing emotions or sensitivity is considered taboo among the males. In the Citadel a man can act in a manner in which the threat of breaking the public norms is not eminent. The way of life in the Citadel made it almost impossible to live for a woman. Society as a whole saw the Citadel as an established all male school and they were determined to keep it that way. However, this perception is based on what is seen from an outside perspective. Gladwell defines this aspect of perception of character as the FAE, Fundamental Attribution Error. Gladwell writes, â€Å"The mistake we make in thinking of character as something unified and all-encompassing is very similar to a kind of blind spot in the way we process information† (162). If character is something unified, then everyone must be classified as one in the same. The mistake the Citadel is making is having their all boy school rule become a blind spot for the future. The future that lies ahead can never be, if the Citadel sticks to their tradition. While tradition is what made the school so prestigious, a change in time may also need a change in tradition. A women can just as easily â€Å"be one of the guys† as any other guy. While men have defining characteristics that make them appear different from women, there are many attributes, such as personality that isn’t so distinctive between certain people. The Citadel being filled with men who everyone knew would resist the idea of a women being admitted to the school, needed someone who could â€Å"fit† in. â€Å"Robert Patterson, the Citadel attorney who had previously represented V. M. I. , asked Astin, his voice full of unflattering insinuation about the kind of woman he imagined her to be. Astin: I suppose the same as the kind of men who want to go there. Patterson: Would it be a woman that would not be all that different from men? Astin: Yes. † (Faludi 95). This quick interrogation of Alexander Astin explains that men and women are not different after all. While Patterson thought he found the winning point to his case, he actually put himself and the Citadel in a hole. Women, who would apply to The Citadel, feel that they have the ability to compete with the existing me inside. Everyone knew how the Citadel was run. It was filled with aggressive men under military rules. But Shannon Faulkner still applied. Sharron Faulkner was the type of women that Patterson perceived would be able to attend the Citadel. You could cite her memory that as a small child she preferred playing outside with the boys to playing with certain girls whom she deemed â€Å"too prissy†Ã¢â‚¬  (Faludi 96). Shannon was always, â€Å"one of the boys†. Her background and general attitude is extremely similar to anyone of the â€Å"men† at the Citadel. Even with this, the Citadel is still against the idea. â€Å"The psychologist Walter Mischel argues that the human mind has a kind of â€Å"reducing valve† that â€Å"creates and maintains the perception of continuity even in the face of perpetual observed changes in actual behavior† (Gladwell 162). The way our mind works, it is hard for people to have multiple views on something. In the case of the Citadel, society perceived the school as a strict all boy school that is not suitable for any women. Society also perceived Shannon as just a woman. â€Å"Just† isn’t putting down that aspect, but that is all that society saw her as. So if the Citadel is looked at and known as an all boys militaristic school that women would never be able to step foot into as a student and Shannon was looked at as just a woman then in no way shape or form would she ever be allowed to attend that school. That’s the problem with our society. We base our judgment on what we see, not on what we know. Any women who is willing to put herself through that type of embarrassment and trouble and even death threats just to get into a school, in my mind is more of a man than any of those kids in the Citadel. Society is filled with stereotypes and that is what everyone is based off of. You, the next guy and me will always be looked at by society as part of a stereotype. This is the problem with the Citadel, and society in general. Perception is key in all events that occur at the Citadel. Perception plays a strong role in the Power of Context as wells as sexism at the Citadel. The focus on environment is the main aspect of the Power of Context. It says the people are â€Å"acutely sensitive to their environment† (Gladwell 159). People are therefore prompted to do certain things based on their perception of their environment. This is exactly what was occurring at the Citadel. The cadets were prompted to react physically towards each other based on what their perception of a man was. Knobs told me that they were forced to run through the showers while the upperclassman â€Å"gaurds† knocked the soap out of their hands and, when the knobs leaned over to retrieve it the upperclassman would unzip their pants and yell, â€Å"Don’t pick it up, don’t pick it up! We’ll use you like we used those girls! † (Faludi 105). The Citadel continually expresses the idea of being a man. However, the upperclassman takes advantage of this and confuses strength of a man with violence. These knobs that come into the university as boys, are turning into emotionally stunted individuals. They lack the understanding of a real man. As well as what it means to be in a relationship a part from other men. Women, whether they believe so or not, are a great importance to the future of the Citadel. The reality of the Citadel, however, is that it’s producing less â€Å"men† and more homosexuals. This may in fact be a direct result of no women in the vicinity. â€Å"When a Citadel attorney asked Doucet why female cadets would pose a problem on the campus, the only issue he raised was the humiliation that cadets feel if women observe the cadets’ on-campus interactions† (Faludi 104). Humiliation may be one of the strongest emotions that can alter ones character forever. However, if women were allowed in the school than humiliation would not be an issue because the men would change their ways to please women. Women posed no actual threat to the school, except the embarrassment of the cadets. Is that even a legitimate reason to prevent a girl of getting an education? Shannon was faced with more humiliation and threats than the boys in the school could ever imagine. Then, as they turned back to the house, they saw that across the white porch columns and along the siding of the house, the words, â€Å"Bitch,† â€Å"Dyke,† â€Å"Whore,† and â€Å"Lesbo† (Faludi 94). The Citadel Cadets were criticizing Shannon Faulkner because she wanted to be accepted. It just so happens that all the terms they used all categorized her as a man. Shannon could speak, act and dress like a man but no matter what she will never be able to be fully accepted beca use in their minds only a man a true man is suited for the school. The controversy at the Citadel is a sad but eye opening example of how our society is. Society puts them in a mindset where only one way is the right way. If society can open up their brains to more opportunities than a lot of problems would be alleviated. Malcom Gladwell poses the reasoning of the Citadels problems with the idea of the Power of Context. There is so much that goes on in a situation that it should never be that easy to give an answer. The situation at the Citadel is un-fair and wrong. Women are just as smart and important as men and should have the same rules. But in that argument, if you want to be treated the same, you can’t complain.

Solons Constitution and the Rise of Democracy

And all the others were called Thetes, who were not admitted to any office, but could come to the assembly, and act as jurors; which at first seemed nothing, but afterwards was found an enormous privilege, as almost every matter of dispute came before them in this latter capacity.- Plutarch Life of Solon Reforms of Solons Constitution After dealing with the immediate crises in 6th century Athens, Solon redefined citizenship so as to create the foundations of democracy. Before Solon, the eupatridai (nobles) had a monopoly on the government by virtue of their birth. Solon replaced this hereditary aristocracy with one based on wealth. In the new system, there were four propertied classes in Attica (greater Athens). Depending on how much property they owned, citizens were entitled to run for certain offices denied those lower on the property scale. In return for holding more positions, they were expected to contribute more. Those who were worth 500 measures of fruits, dry and liquid, he placed in the first rank, calling them Pentacosiomedimni (note the prefix meaning five);Those who could keep a horse, or were worth three hundred measures, were named Hippada Teluntes, and made the second class (note the hipp- prefix meaning horse);The Zeugitae, who had two hundred measures, were in the third (note the zeug- is thought to refer to a yoke).Solon added, as a fourth class, the thetes, serfs with only a small amount of property. Classes (Review) PentacosiomedimnoiHippeisZeugitaiThetes Offices to which members could be elected (by class) PentacosiomedimnoiTreasurer,Archons,Financial officials, and theBoule.HippeisArchons,Financial officials, and theBoule.ZeugitaiFinancial officials, and theBouleThetes Property Qualification and Military Obligation Pentacosiomedimnoiproduced 500 measures or more of produce per year.Hippeis (cavalry)produced 300 measures.Zeugitai (hoplites)produced 200 measures.Thetesdidnt produce enough for the military census. It is thought that Solon was the first to admit the thetes to the ekklesia (assembly), the meeting of all citizens of Attica. The ekklesia had a say in appointing archons and could also listen to accusations against them. The citizenry also formed a judicial body (dikasteria), which heard many legal cases. Under Solon, rules were relaxed as to who could bring a case to court. Earlier, the only ones who could do so were the injured party or his family, but now, except in cases of homicide, anyone could. Solon may also have established the boule, or Council of 400, to determine what should be discussed in the ekklesia. One hundred men from each of the four tribes (but only those in the upper three classes) would have been picked by lot to form this group. However, since the word boule would also have been used by the Areopagus, and since Cleisthenes created a boule of 500, there is cause to doubt this Solonian accomplishment. The magistrates or archons may have been selected by lot and election. If so, each tribe elected 10 candidates. From the 40 candidates, nine archons were selected by lot each year. This system would have minimized influence-peddling while giving the gods the ultimate say. However, in his Politics, Aristotle says the archons were selected the way they had been before Draco, with the exception that all citizens had the right to vote. Those archons who had completed their year in office were enrolled in the Council of the Areopagus. Since archons could only come from the top three classes, its composition was entirely aristocratic. It was considered a censoring body and the guardian of the laws. The ekklesia had the power to try archons at the end of their year in office. Since the ekklesia probably selected the archons, and since, in time, it became common practice to make legal appeals to the ekklesia, the ekklesia (i.e., the people) had the supreme power. References J.B. Bury. A History of Greece.Reed Colleges David Silvermans Early Athenian Institutions (http://homer.reed.edu/GkHist/EarlyAthenianLect.html)John Porters Solon (http://duke.usask.ca/~porterj/CourseNotes/SolonNotes.html)Athenian Democracy (http://www.keele.ac.uk/depts/cl/iahcla~7.htm)Ancient Greece: Athens (http://www.wsu.edu:8080/~dee/GREECE/ATHENS.HTM)