Book: Managing Organizational Change: A Multiple Perspectives Approach.

by Ian Palmer

Book Chapter : chp 12

1a. Do you feel that you have the resilience required to operate effectively as a change manager? If necessary, what steps can you take to maintain and strengthen your resilience?

1b. Are you politically skilled? Do you use political skills to advance your change agenda? What approaches and tactics do you use to "sell" ideas to colleagues and top management? Who are the other "politicians" in your organization? Are you able to manage their support and block their attempts to interfere with your change agenda?

2. Read 'The Reputation TrapCan You Escape?'

a. What does this case reveal about the challenges faced by successful businesses? Is it possible to be too successful?

b. How does a successful organization determine whether an environmental change is a brief fad or fashion to be ignored, or a development that requires a fundamental rethink of the way in which it does business?

c. What change issues does this case raise with regard to the significance of reputation?

d. What actions would you recommend be taken by Big Food and the fast-food companies that have been caught in the reputation trap?