Implementation, Evaluation, and Sustainability
The management of change is inevitable in today’s business environment, and this means that it is important that firms implement strategies that ensure that there is the management of the change to avoid an increase in conflict and to increase the profitability of the firm. McDonald has embraced change, and this helps in making sure that there is the growth in the revenue of the company to enhance growth in the business environment. The identification of the challenges that the firm continues to face is important as it ensures that there is the observation of the areas that need change.
Problems
The company continues to face challenges in its business structure, and this creates the need to implement changes, as it is through this that there is the improvement in the strategies that enhance the adaptability of the company to the needs of the consumers such as the embracing of the healthy lifestyles. People are now conscious about their diet, and this means that they have to get value from the products that they consume. It means that it is important that there is the change of the notion of the business from the junk food entity to the embracing of the needs of the consumers especially in the reduction of the obesity levels in the communities. The company view in the market is that it sells fattening and unhealthy food and this means that it is necessary that the firm change its operations to ensure that they embrace healthy lifestyles according to the preferences of the individuals. The inclusion of healthy foods is important as it ensures that there is the adoption of healthy living in the environment.
External and Internal Forces
Various issues contribute to the change in the company, and the external forces include the competition that exists in the market where competitors value the health of the customers. It shows that they have moved towards the achievement of the healthy lifestyle by the provision of foods that have low levels of calories. It increases the pressure for McDonald’s to adapt to the changing demand of the market and ensure that there is the retention of the clients (Clement, 1994). The imitation of the products produced by the competitors means that there is the increase in the variety that the consumers can choose from, and this leads to the decline in the uniqueness of the products making sure that there is the need to adopt new strategies to help in the growth of the company. The internal forces that affect the company are the change in the employee’s demands where they feel that they are oppressed in the different areas that they perform.
Stakeholders and Change
The company towards the adoption of the healthy lifestyle has implemented different change initiative sand this includes the produce that they get from the farms where they have resisted the chicken that is injected with the antibiotics. It means that the farmers are affected, as there is the decline in the demand for their chicken. The shareholder’s profits also decrease before the change is fully implemented and this means that it is important that there is the consideration of the different changes that should be made and the effect that it has on the profitability of the company. The customers are affected as the lifestyle that they choose is healthy and this means that there is gaining of value from the products that the enterprise sells. It is important that there is the resistance to the change is identified and the implication that it has on the operations of the company.
Responsibility of Change Leader
The role that the leader plays in the management of change is important as it ensures that there is the reduction of conflict in the organization. It means that there is the observation of the needs of the market and the communication of the same to the employees. As a leader, the role is to guide the process of making decisions and ensuring that there is a clear outline of the issues that the employees should tackle. The employees will be involved in the process of decision making and the theory utilized is the trait theory of leadership where there is the belief that the employees have unique qualities that assist in the development of the values of the organization (Banjo Ally, Kehinde Agbolade & Hassanat Adunni, 2016). They will influence the process, and this is one of the ways to help in the reduction of conflict in the organization. It will assist in exploiting their potential and improving their growth in the organization.
Change Agents
Change agents are important in the management of change in the organization. They ensure that the process of communication of the change is efficient and that there is the decrease in the conflict in the organization. Employees are one of the change agents that will be used in the case and their role is to ensure that there is the increase in the efficiency of the change. They also help in the identification of the different challenges that the company is likely to and this helps in making sure that there is the minimization of the resistance from the organization. There is the use of the stakeholders that are aware of the behavior of the organization and the need to ensure that there is areas affected by the change are assessed. They help in ensuring that communication in the organization is efficient and that the culture of the organization recognizes the types of changes that should take place.
Strategies
The strategies that the company uses include the communication to the clients on the various changes that they are implementing especially on the adoption of the healthy products. It ensures that there is the increase in the confidence of the customers in the products that they consume. The Lewin model of change is important in guiding the strategies that the company employs as it shows that there is improved need to ensure that the implementation process is carried out in the shorted time possible (Romanescu Marcel, 2016). The model shows the different stages of the change that is taking place, and this is important in understanding the analogies of the changes that should be implemented. The training of the employees assists in the reduction of resistance to changes implemented, and this is where they are aware of the company intentions in the market. The model guides the management on the various strategies in the different stages of unfreezing and the refreeze and ensures that the employees are comfortable with the type of changes made.
Barriers to Change
With the implementation of change, there are different restrictions that the company is likely to face and it is important that they are identified as they contribute to the failure of the plans of the organization. One of the barriers is the lack of critical understanding of the issues that continue to face the organization and this me as that the employees might fail to implement the change as they are used to the routine of doing things. One of the important ways to overcome is to ensure that there is the education of the employees on the challenges that the organization continues to face and the assurance that they will continue to remain engaged (Ha, 2014). The lack of the right ways to manage the change contributes to the barriers of successful implementation, and this should be overcome by careful analysis of the issues that the company should implement. The management of the expectations of the customers helps in the reduction of the barriers.
Evaluation Methods
The evaluation of change is necessary as it ensures that there is the assessment of the likelihood of the intentions of the company to fail. It helps in ensuring that there is the change in the strategies that the companies employ and the identification of the ways that are important in increasing the efficiency of the organization. Evaluation means that there is the determination of the outcomes and the inputs of the organization. The metrics used in the assessment process is the plan and the baselines used in the evaluation as it is through this that there is the analysis of the facts of the organization (Kang, 2015). The data applied will help in the determination of the elements that are important in the change process. It is through this that there I the analysis of the effectiveness of the process and the adjusting of the goals as is required to improve the efficiency of the organization.
Strategies to Support Change
The identification of the strategies that support change is important as they ensure that there is the constant observation of the issues that face the company. They help in the management of the expectations of the individuals and that there is the embracing of the constant changes that is taking place in the organization. The strategies that the company should embrace is research and development as it is through this that there is the identification of the constant changes in the preferences of the consumers and ensuring that there is the evaluation of the needs of the customers. The regular training of the employees is essential as it helps in the improvement of their knowledge in the processes of the organization and this means that they comply with the needs of the market (Jack, 2017). Through this, there is the improvement in the profitability of the organization and the improvement in their personal growth.
Change Plan and the Mission of the Organization
The mission of McDonald’s is the provision of an environment that is safe for the employees and the dedication towards the delivery of the services that meet the needs of the employees. It is through this that there is the delivering of the services that are expected. The Change plan will ensure that there is the proper communication with the employees and the improvement of their needs that leads to increasing productivity in the environment. There is a meeting of the expectations of the customers through the provision of the goods that meet their standards, and this helps in increasing the growth of the organization through the growth in profitability, and this ultimately leads to the strengthening of the investors’ confidence and attraction of new customers (Jack, 2017).
Change management in McDonald’s is important as it ensures that there is the aligning of the strategies of the organization to help in the achievement of the objectives and ensuring that employees in the organization continue to grow. It is through this that there is the improvement in the performance of the organization and meeting the expectations of the customers
References
Banjo Ally, H., Kehinde Agbolade, O., & Hassanat Adunni, A. (2016). Perception Of Change Management In Nigerian Universities. Revista De Administração FACES Journal, 15(2), 67-80.
Clement, R. W. (1994). Culture, leadership, and power: the keys to organizational change. Business Horizons, (1). 33.
Ha, H. (2014). Change Management for Sustainability. New York: Business Expert Press.
Jack, C. (2017). McDonald challenge was clear red card. Evening Times (Glasgow, Scotland).
Kang, S. ‘. (2015). Change Management: Term Confusion and New Classifications. Performance Improvement, 54(3), 26-32. doi:10.1002/pfi.21466
Romanescu Marcel, L. (2016). Change Management And Its Effects On Organization. Analele Universităţii Constantin Brâncuşi Din Târgu Jiu: Seria Economie , Vol 1, Iss 5, Pp 209- 212 (2016), (5), 209.