Unit four: Principles of supporting change in a business environment Essay

Assessment You should use this file to complete your Assessment. The first thing you need to do is save a copy of this document, either onto your computer or a disk Then work through your Assessment, remembering to save your work regularly When you’ve finished, print out a copy to keep for reference Then, go to www.vision2learn.com and send your completed Assessment to your tutor via your My Study area – make sure it is clearly marked with your name, the course title and the Unit and Assessment number. Please note that this Assessment document has 3 pages and is made up of 3 Sections. Name: Andrea Ecsegi Section 1: Why change happens This section will help you to evidence Learning Outcome 1: Understand why change happens in a business environment. Learning objective Place in Assessment 1.1 Explain reasons for change in a business environment Question 1 Page 1 1. Explain why change happens in a business environment. You should include at least three reasons in your answer. [1.1] Change in business environment are become very important, without it they can’t keep up with the demands of the customers/clients as their needs, expectations and requirements are changing frequently and quickly. Consequences of not making any changes can cause loss of customers, business failure or in some cases even breaking the law. We can speak about two  different kind of changes: reactive and proactive changes. The reactive changes are responding to external influences. PEST contains the four main factors of these: political, economical, social and technological. Proactive changes are made as a result of internal demands by a desire to make the business more effective. Some of the reasons can be to lower waste and costs, launch a new product or upgrade IT equipment. Section 2: Supporting change This section will help you to evidence Learning Outcome 2: Understand the purpose of supporting change in a business environment. Learning objective Place in Assessment 2.1 Identify reasons for reviewing working methods, products or services Question 1 Page 2 2.2 Describe types of support that people may need during change Question 2a Page 2 2.3 Explain the benefits of working with others during change Question 2b Page 2 1. Identify the main reasons for reviewing working methods, products and / or services in a business environment. [2.1] In the business environment everything is always changing therefore it is really important to review working methods, products and/or services from time to time. An organisation may want to review its products/services to make sure it still meets with the customers’ requirements and expectations thus they can stay competitive, efficient and productive. Reviewing the working methods can be really useful if the business is not happy with its performance or just simply want to improve and develop. 2. When a business is going through change: a) Describe the different types of support that people may need. [2.2] Some of the people can find changes hard to accept, they can become stressed. These type of people need extra support and help to get use to the new changes. The most common types of support includes: Effective planning: helps to avoid confusion and confrontation. Participation: sometimes staff have opportunity to take part in changes therefore they can feel more comfortable with it. Clear communication, explanations and expectations: gives clarity to employees about the changes will occur, how this will affect their job and why this have to be made. Encouragement: the manager’s behaviour can help to the staff to adapt the changes more easily, they need to be friendly and helpful. Training or retraining: changes in work methods, products and/or services can require training or retraining to get the skills employees might need to keep up with changes and stay effective. Counselling or coaching: support from trained professionals who have experience of helping people to adopt changes. b) Explain the benefits of working with others. [2.3] For employees it can be difficult to accept changes, they might get anxious and stressed. If people are working together they can help each other, talk about problems, share their experience and support each other. Section 3: Responding to change This section will help you to evidence Learning Outcome 3: Understand how to respond to change in a business environment. Learning objective Place in Assessment 3.1 Explain the purpose of responding positively to changes in working methods, products or services Question 1a Page 3 Question 1b Page 3 3.2 Identify ways of responding positively to change Question 1c Page 3 1. In relation to your current business environment (or one that you are familiar with): a) Explain why you should respond positively to changes in working methods. [3.1] Changes in working methods are usually happening to improve and speed up the working process. A positive can-do attitude will result good relationships with others and helps to learn faster and easier. If I resist and don’t accept the new way I should do my job this will generate conflicts and will bring stress to my workplace, others may have to do my work again because it’s not appropriate and also I might slow down the workflow what can result serious problems in the restaurant regarding to customers as well. b) Explain why you should respond positively to changes in products or services. [3.1] Customers’ requirements are always changing and we always have to give the best service/products – we have to make sure these are suitable and efficient – thus changes occur often. If I don’t adopt the change what have been made to serve customers better they might not meet with their needs and will leave the restaurant to find another better place. It is very important to keep up with customers’ demands and market innovations in a restaurant as you can find loads of them especially in central London. c) Identify ways of responding positively to change. [3.2] Employers are looking for people who are willing to change, happy to improve their skills. If I resist and I’m not willing to keep up with improvements I can lose my job as a result people don’t want to work with a passive employee. The most important ways how to respond to changes: Willingness to learn: understand that to learn new skills will serve us on our carrier. Willingness to teach: sharing the information and skills with others will help them to adopt changes. Willingness to solve problems: these  kind of people are looking for solutions and not waiting for others. Employers prefer to employ these type of people. Maintaining a positive outlook: have a happy and can-do attitude. Enjoying the chance to change and adapt: looking at changes as something good and beneficial Once you have completed all 3 Sections of this Assessment, go to www.vision2learn.com and send your work to your tutor for marking.