It's been several weeks since you submitted your change vision statement to Mike Harrenton, CEO of EKT. You've been occupied with several other projects at your firm when your supervisor meets with you again and says, "It looks like the CEO at EKT has started communicating the change to his employees in an attempt to start to create some of the changes you proposed. But it looks like there are some mixed reactions among the employees -- some are pushing back and some are excited. I need you to head over to EKT and help Mike create a plan for getting employees to begin to buy into the new changes."

After a careful review of the findings, research, and analysis of the environmental forces driving change at Elite Knowledge Training, it is possible to diagnose what needs to be changed in the organization. Using the Nadler and Tuchman Organizational Congruence Model, the key problem areas identified include Strategy and Goals, Structure, People, and Leadership.

The current strategy of the organization is focused on providing face-to-face training, which is no longer the most effective way to provide training in today's digital world. To remain competitive, it is important for Elite Knowledge Training to begin to offer more advanced forms of instruction such as video conferencing, video-based instruction, and distribution of materials in a digital format.

The structure of Elite Knowledge Training is outdated and needs to be updated to reflect the current needs of the organization. In particular, the Training Specialists are resistant to the idea of introducing online training, and their roles need to be redefined to better fit the new direction of the organization.

The people at Elite Knowledge Training need to be better aligned with the goals and objectives of the organization. This includes fostering a better sense of collaboration between departments, which is currently hindered by the conflict between Bill Johnson (VP Marketing) and Jay Clark-Gardner (VP Learning Design). Additionally, the employees need to be better trained and supported to be successful in their roles.

The leadership at Elite Knowledge Training needs to be more focused and aligned with the organization's goals and objectives. Mike Harrenton (CEO) needs to be more assertive in his role and make sure that the organization is moving in the right direction.

Based on the findings and analysis, the following recommendations are proposed to move Elite Knowledge Training forward and create positive change:

Update the strategy of the organization to focus on offering online training and more advanced forms of instruction. To successfully implement this change, Elite Knowledge Training will need to invest in the necessary technology and resources to provide online training. This includes hiring or training existing employees to become proficient in the use of the technology and tools needed to provide online training. Additionally, the organization will need to create a comprehensive plan for introducing online training and ensure that all employees are on board with the change. Elite Knowledge Training will need to create an effective marketing plan to increase awareness of their online training offerings.

Reorganize the structure of the organization to better align with the current goals and objectives. The structure of Elite Knowledge Training is outdated and needs to be updated to reflect the current needs of the organization. In particular, the Training Specialists are opposing to the idea of introducing online training, and their roles need to be redefined to better fit the new direction of the organization.

Foster a better sense of collaboration between departments and better support employees in their roles. The people at Elite Knowledge Training need to be better aligned with the goals and objectives of the organization. This includes fostering a better sense of collaboration between departments, which is currently hindered by the conflict between Bill Johnson (VP Marketing) and Jay Clark-Gardner (VP Learning Design). Additionally, the employees need to be better trained and supported to be successful in their roles. To successfully implement this change, Elite Knowledge Training will need to create a comprehensive plan for fostering collaboration between departments. This includes identifying the areas in which collaboration is needed and creating guidelines for how collaboration should be handled. The organization will need to invest in training and support for employees to ensure that they are adequately equipped to handle their roles and responsibilities.

Encourage Mike Harrenton to be more assertive in his role as CEO and ensure that the organization is moving in the right direction. The leadership at EKT needs to be more focused and aligned with the organization's goals and objectives. Mike Harrenton (CEO) needs to be more assertive in his role and make sure that the organization is moving in the right direction. To successfully implement this change, Elite Knowledge Training will need to create a comprehensive plan for Mike Harrenton to be more assertive in his role as CEO. This includes creating a plan for how he will be more involved in the day-to-day operations of the organization, as well as identifying areas that need his attention and how he can best provide leadership and direction. The company will need to create a plan for how the organization can ensure that it is moving in the right direction and identify areas that need to be addressed to move the organization forward.

Diversify revenue streams to reduce reliance on a few key partners. As identified in the research and interviews, Elite Knowledge Training is currently reliant on a few key partners for over 60% of their revenue. To reduce this reliance and create a more stable financial situation, it is important for Elite Knowledge Training to diversify their revenue streams.

To successfully implement this change, Elite Knowledge Training will need to create a comprehensive plan for diversifying their revenue streams. This includes identifying potential new revenue sources and creating a plan for how to attract and maintain these new sources. Elite Knowledge Training will need to invest in marketing and sales efforts to effectively promote their offerings and increase their reach. Lastly, Elite Knowledge Training will need to assess the current partnerships and identify areas for improvement to ensure that those partnerships remain strong.

These proposed changes will require a significant investment of time and resources to implement, but they are necessary for Elite Knowledge Training to remain competitive in today's digital world. With the right leadership, focus, and commitment, Elite Knowledge Training can create a successful future and remain a leader in leadership development.

Action Items

1. Identify who is in the "in" group and who is in the "out" group. The "in" group are those who are most likely to support the change, and the "out" group are those who are most likely to resist. Clearly identify which groups will need additional focus.Be clear about how you will get people to begin to buy into the changes so that EKT can move forward in their goals.
2. Create the beginning of a change management plan for working with the stakeholders using the following steps of Kotter's Change Process: establish a sense of urgency, create a guiding coalition, and communicate.