TASK: Please help me with a proposed change recommendation using my organizational analysis. Thank you for your help.

Question:

Based upon your organizational analysis, and in discussion with your principal, pick one area or project to be your focus on leading change.

Initially, please analyze the change area using Quinn's 7 Areas of Logical Incrementalism to take a look at what issues or considerations will need to be considered.

Then, using Kotter's Eight Stages of Change Planning, make a proposed change document using the first four of Kotter's Stages, with draft timelines for all four stages. You won't be responsible for implementing the changes, as the class will be over by then. But your responsibility is to make a reasonable plan, with description of the respective goals in each step, and to include a draft schedule/timeline for these stages to present to the principal.

I, and any reader, need to be able to follow everyone's logic, plans, and rationale for choosing their respective one change area (feel free to refer to your org. assessment, change area choice, vision, and sense of urgency right away, knowing you'llred to re-state thevision and sense of urgency in the Kotter steps).

MY ORGANIZATIONAL ANALYSIS:

OVERVIEW

In the Employment Solutions Department, we help students to be able to visualize a career path. We connect the students with companies, and industries that match up to their chosen career. The Employment Solutions Department continuously make sure the students are aware of us, by visiting the classrooms early in the quarter, and inviting them to talk with us. We also help students choose a program for the ones who show up and are not sure what they want to do. Students come to AMTEC because the programs are successful. Our department helps students build confidence in career paths. Recently the college has implemented a new value statement that includes helping students build careers.

RESULTS OF INTERVIEWS

Point 1

Our department provide students with one-on-one assistance with creating resumes and job placements. Teri, you mentioned some welders have a hard time writing resumes. You feel soon, the department will not be able to provide one -on -one assistance with the students. Our department has been able to help welder's come up with resume's equal to academic levels. You believe our current process of assisting students with resume's could be a little stricter. Allowing students to be more involved with the resume process. My peer interviewee, Lisa Fritch points out the fact that our department is very successful with retention from the internship program. Teri believes it is beneficial for AMTEC students to have the support of Employee Solutions. Our department has proven to be successful, and the students depend on it. Lisa points out that there is room for expanding job listings making it convenient for students to access. While also making it easier for Employment Solutions to reach the students. We don't want to allow students to fall through the cracks or miss out on a great opportunity.

Point 2

Our department could continue to be effective by implementing a better division of labor. You mentioned the career center on the main campus. Which deals with students from different programs. While you are a small team of two, the main campus has a team consisting of one. Teri, you also mentioned you are in a management role without anyone to manage. Lisa, you pointed out your job task changes frequently and it's frustrating. Teri, you recognize AMTEC students can continue to be successful. With the help of Employment Solutions, we can continue to provide students with the one-on-one assistance they need. Lisa also recognizes the need to continuously find different ways to provide information to students. You created the online job listings "Chatter" to help address connecting to students. Teri, you stated, we are committed to being able to improve interaction with AMTEC students. Adding interactive boards to AMTEC will help students connect to available employers matching their career paths. Phone apps will also provide a more convenient way to connect with students. Teri, you had an idea to train tutors on the main campus to become resume experts. Seeking a way to continue providing students with the on-on-one assistance they need.

Point 3

Fortunately, our department is motivated and supported by the Dean (Herman) which is our boss. You mentioned he protects you from the top and sets you up for success. Teri has raised concerns about being able to serve students in the future and how and if this could be addressed. Considering the last resume workshop, no one showed up. There are two employees at Employment Solutions. Unfortunately, there is a Career Center located on the main campus with only one employee to run all the programs alone. Although discussed, neither department have the time to implement merging the two. Teri pointed out; all three employees have the same boss. We will see an improvement, the students will continue to receive the help they need, and the departments will have more support with job task and responsibilities dispersed within both departments. Teri also mentioned the possible training of tutors to become resume experts. Allowing AMTEC students to continue receiving one-on-one assistance with writing resumes just as students would with writing a college paper. We will see improvements in both areas of concern.

FOUR FRAMES

Structural: Our department is a great benefit to students at AMTEC. Our staff is successfully assisting students with creating resumes and finding employment. We connect employers to students by hosting job fairs and resume workshops. The current option to get information to students have not been as effective as it should be. Providing a variety of ways to deliver the jobs listings and workshops events may help with increasing involvement in connecting with students and increasing workshop attendance.

Human Resources:Using our skills and creativity to be able to continuously serve students will allow us to expand the way we connect with AMTEC students. The current process is becoming difficult to get students attention with the current tools being used and the possibility of the end to one-on-one resume assistance. If we would like to continue to provide services for students, we must increase the tools we use to connect with the student conveniently. If we would like to continue to provide employment solutions to students, we must find ways to integrate departments that are similar to ease the burden.

Political:Most of the employees are being stretched above and beyond their regular job roles. This has occurred due to difficult choices that have been made to help address the current hiring freeze and budget constraints. Because one employee is responsible for completing task which are constantly changing, it is causing frustration and exhaustion. While the other employee is facing concerns about the discontinuous of assisting students with obtaining job placement and resume guidance. There is another career department within the college offering similar help to students from different programs. They too, are faced with understaffing and issues with an employee being stretched with job roles beyond their title. We need to ensure employee satisfaction and make sure their voices are heard. Doing so, employees can use their talent and skills at ease to assure all organizational goals are met. By coming up with a variety of tools to interact with students, will allow the department to continue to be successful with helping students.

Symbolic:The staff within our department are here to serve students by providing guidance and employment resources. The changes we are hoping to make will allow the department to continue to thrive. Providing resume help within the tutoring/writing center will continue the success of AMTEC students. Implementing a merge with both career centers will allow employees to feel motivated rather than frustrated with completing their job task.

SWOT ANALYSIS

Strengths:90% retention rates for matching students with careers that matches their degree. "Chatter" job listings via email.

Weaknesses:Hiring freeze and budget constraints.

Opportunities:Employment Solutions is continuously dedicated to the success of AMTEC students. We are also dedicated to the success of Everett Community College as a whole. The department has a high-performance rate and has room to update tools for providing resources to students.

Threats:Resistance from the employee in the other career department. Not having the time to implement the change.

AREAS OF POTENTIAL CHANGE

1. Updating interaction tools used to connect the students to employers.
2. Training tutors to become experts in resume assisting to be able to help AMTEC students with resumes.
3. Merging the two career centers together, making it easier to allocate task amongst the staff.

RECOMMENDED AREA OF CHANGE

I recommend by Fall quarter 2023, AMTEC will have a complete training plan for tutors located at the Everett Community College's writing and tutor center. Doing so, will address the concerns of being able to stay dedicated to AMTEC students. Our department and students will benefit from this recommended change by allowing students to continue to receive the guidance they need to be successful. The change will also give employees the extra time needed to complete task. Being able to continue to meet organizational goals without feeling exhausted from overly stretched tasks.