construction management
a) Factual Review Questions Chapter 6
2. Explain why the implementation of total quality requires cultural change.
It has been said that every company, either big or small, has an organizational culture. This “culture” is, in short, the manifestation of the values and traditions that guide the everyday operation of a business organization. This “culture” is typically deeply entrenched in the mentality or the firm, from management, down to the last employee. Therefore, a successful implementation of total quality must necessarily require changing those obsolete values, traditions, and business practices, or in other words, the company organizational culture.
5. Why is change so difficult for people?
In life, there are not easy changes. Human beings, in general, don’t like to the uncertainty that changes may bring. People exhibit the same behavior in their professional lives when changes are impending. Many people focus on the perceived (or real) threats to their status, habits and/or security. For this people most changes inspire fear, insecurity, and bring the possibility of extra responsibilities. Not an easy sell!
8. List and describe the strategies that can be used to overcome resistance to change.
The following strategies can be implemented in order to overcome resistance to change:
- Involve potential resisters: If the people affected by the change are involved, his ideas are listened, and are genuinely convinced that they have a say about the changes, they can turn from resisters to advocates.
- Avoid surprises: As we discussed earlier, people does not appreciate changes, and sudden changes are even less welcomed. So, in order to minimize the possibility of resistance is very important to avoid surprises. Let’s remember that people in a work environment need stability, and predictability. Surprises will only turn potential resistors into committed ones.
- Move slow at first: Don’t attempt to make drastic changes from the beginning. If
2. Explain why the implementation of total quality requires cultural change.
It has been said that every company, either big or small, has an organizational culture. This “culture” is, in short, the manifestation of the values and traditions that guide the everyday operation of a business organization. This “culture” is typically deeply entrenched in the mentality or the firm, from management, down to the last employee. Therefore, a successful implementation of total quality must necessarily require changing those obsolete values, traditions, and business practices, or in other words, the company organizational culture.
5. Why is change so difficult for people?
In life, there are not easy changes. Human beings, in general, don’t like to the uncertainty that changes may bring. People exhibit the same behavior in their professional lives when changes are impending. Many people focus on the perceived (or real) threats to their status, habits and/or security. For this people most changes inspire fear, insecurity, and bring the possibility of extra responsibilities. Not an easy sell!
8. List and describe the strategies that can be used to overcome resistance to change.
The following strategies can be implemented in order to overcome resistance to change:
- Involve potential resisters: If the people affected by the change are involved, his ideas are listened, and are genuinely convinced that they have a say about the changes, they can turn from resisters to advocates.
- Avoid surprises: As we discussed earlier, people does not appreciate changes, and sudden changes are even less welcomed. So, in order to minimize the possibility of resistance is very important to avoid surprises. Let’s remember that people in a work environment need stability, and predictability. Surprises will only turn potential resistors into committed ones.
- Move slow at first: Don’t attempt to make drastic changes from the beginning. If