Assessment Task 1 – Case Study : Lead and Manage Organisational Change

case study assignments on Lead and Manage Organisational Change |change management strategies | human resources development | human resources management | strategic policy or planning area

Read the following case study and answer the questions that follow

Margaret House, CEO of Bounce Fitness, has asked you to act as the Change Management Agent for an initiative to be undertaken nationally at Bounce Fitness Centres. You have been asked to prepare a change management

project planto implement a whole-of-business change and she has committed a budget of $20,000.

The Executive has recognised that the lack of standardisation of operations and the different levels of training has reduced the quality of the customer experience and potentially safety, and makes it difficult to plan for the future as each Centre currently makes many of their own decisions.

Bounce Fitness is about to become registered with Fitness Australia (www.fitness.org.au) as a Fitness Australia Club Operator Member. This will require meeting the Code of Practice for the state in which each Centre is located. Bounce Fitness also wants to ensure that all trainers meet, or immediately undertake training to meet, the standards associated with Fitness Australia business registration. The registration requirements can be obtained from the Fitness Australia website at  www.fitness.org.au and click the Register tab. The Codes of Practice for each state are linked on this page if you scroll down.  Select the one relevant to your State.

The financial consideration for this in terms of fees payable includes:

• The business membership is payable as $770 for the first centre and $495 for each linked centre after that with a $99 joining fee applied to each Centre for first time membership.
• Individual exercise professionals must also be registered. This is $170 + GST for two years. In the two years they are required to complete 20 CECs (continuing education credits) before renewing their registration.

There is no stipulation as to trainer numbers outside those in the Code of Practice (recommending a registered exercise professional be on the gym floor during opening hours; or, where outdoor group exercise/PT is being offered where the recommended ratio is 1:18). Registered businesses complying with the Code of Practice will only employ registered exercise professionals.

The minimum educational qualification currently necessary for all trainers is the Certificate III in Fitness instructing and all trainers must hold this to continue to work as a trainer of classes and individual clients.  At this point in time, this has not been consistently applied. In Cairns all are qualified, in Brisbane two (2) need the basic training as well as two (2) Sydney and one (1) in Melbourne. It is intended under the change management initiative that all trainers, once they have completed the basic training will continue to pursue further training, the Certificate IV and Diploma annually as personal development.

Bounce Fitness will pay for the training fees and other incidentals such as text book requirements and provide one (1) paid hour per week for study leave. Bounce Fitness will also reimburse travel and accommodation for compulsory study attendance sessions. You can get more information on this at Fitness Australia website under the Education and Training tab.

It is expected that the change management process will be fairly smooth if adequate measures are taken and the process is well managed. The major resistance will come from the five (5) trainers who do not have this qualification and have learned through experience.  That is why they do not have it now. They will also not want to participate in the further training initiative.

If the whole standardisation process is not managed carefully, there is a potential for great dissatisfaction and all Centres will not comply with the standardised procedures.  This is a major concern for the Executive, hence your employment.

Based on the case study above answer the following questions:

1. Identify the needs for strategic change through analysis of strategic plans contrasted with the practices as defined in the scenario. You may prefer to use SWOT analysis but this is optional.

2. Discuss any patterns or trends in the external environment which impact on the achievement of the organisations change management objectives.

3. Identify major operational change requirements due to performance gaps, business opportunities or threats, or management decisions for this change management initiative.

4. Discuss how you will review and prioritise change requirements/opportunities with relevant managers.

Conduct web research and identify the name of an external specialist or expert who can help you identify major change requirements and opportunities in this case.

5. Complete a cost benefit analysis for high priority change requirements/opportunities.

6. Complete a risk analysis, identify barriers to change and agree and document mitigation strategies.

7. From whom will you seek approval and confirm the change management process?

8. What resources will you need and how will you report to and gain information from relevant managers?

9. Develop a communication plan and discuss how you will consult with relevant groups and individuals. Do not forget that you must report to the Executive as well as communicate widely with Centre staff.

10. Develop your communication/education plan to promote the benefits of the change to the organisation, and to minimise loss, and arrange activities to deliver the communication plan to all relevant groups and individuals.

11. How will you consult with relevant groups and individuals for input to the change process after the implementation commences?

12. What barriers to change do you see as possible? Develop a risk management and mitigation plan for each.

13. In your change management plan, include action plans and activities and the project timetable. You may use a

Critical Path Analysis or Gantt chart for this, but may choose to use another method.

14. What are your strategies and how will you activate these for embedding the change?
15. How and when will you conduct evaluation and review, and modify your change management project plan to achieve change program objectives?

What to submit for assessment

1. Change management project plan
2. Answers to questions 1- 15