Innovation and Change
Change is rarely, if ever, an easy process, especially within an organization. Nowadays however, change in organizations is the norm, not the exception. Heading into the 21st Century, the world of business is faced with critical challenges. Increasing returns is an important concept for today's economy - one that requires growth in order to survive. It is not merely an idea for the e-world, but one that applies to all businesses that want to remain competitive and adaptive in today's uncertain marketplace. By understanding that innovation is more of a process than a single plan and that innovation that cascades throughout the organization is essential for its progress, companies can begin to build unforeseen growth potential. In a 16-year study of over 200 firms cutting across 22 industries, John P. Kotter and James L. Heskitt found that poor performing organizational cultures were those with the inability to change and adapt. Another study, conducted for a March/April 1997 Harvard Business Review article points out that in a period of less than 13 years, one-third of the 1970 Fortune 500 companies had been acquired, merged, or for some reason disappeared.
Ford also looks beyond boarders, into emerging economies. "A consumer-driven company cannot afford to overlook the wants and needs of billions of potential customers, but serving these customers will require vastly different approaches, new business models for delivering products and services and considerable cultural sensitivity" (Sustainability Overview). Market research helps Ford understand what consumers want in a vehicle, their attitudes toward the buying experience, how they perceive value and what brand attributes are important - now and in the future. Dozens of categories of consumers are defined based on clusters of responses. The Company's primary brands are analyzed for their fit with these customer categories to determine what specific product will satisfy that target segment". (Today's Choices For Tomorrow) As mentioned previously, the cultural mindset and management structure and systems have to support innovation and change within an organization. Building upon this base, and armed with a clear vision, a change agent can ease the stress of change for its employees by making employees feel that their fears about loss of competence, territory, and control are understood. Open dialogue and the feeling of trust and respect are key to overcome this obstacle. Allowing persons affected by the change to offer their input and to express their needs shows management's understanding for their concerns. Additionally, counseling can be offered to employees with anxieties. If things are going well, it should be publicized. Seeing progress is highly motivating. Individuals who contributed to a successful implementation or provided innovative ideas should be recognized and reinforced. Ford Today And Tomorrow. Homepage. Ford Company. 18 Dec. 2000
Some common words found in the essay are:
Change Agents, BC Greek, PLAN Techniques, Theodore Levitt, Simple Internet, Tomorrow Besides, Motor Company, INTRODUCTION Change, Additionally Amazoncom, External Forces, dec 2000, change agents, products services, today's choices tomorrow, homepage ford company, 21st century, choices tomorrow, today's choices, 18 dec, company 18, sustainability overview, company 18 dec, 18 dec 2000, ford company 18, ford motor,
Approximate Word count = 3796
Approximate Pages = 15 (250 words per page double spaced)
|
