Affecting Change

Affecting Change

Chiquita Harper

University of Phoenix

LDR/531

Hoby Follis

June 14, 2010

Affecting Change

‘”When one has all fine virtues together….intelligence, trustworthiness, humaneness, courage, and sternness…each appropriate for its function, then one can be a leader. Sun Tzu. 5th century B.C.”’ (Leadership in Action, 2010)

Leadership is ‘the ability to influence a group toward the achievement of goals.’ (Leadership in Action, 2010) Effective leadership is critical to any successful organization. Leaders ‘continuously seek to improve organizational performance and enhance work group effectiveness to drive competitiveness and curtail the cost of employee turnovers.’ (Wang, Hsieh, Fan, & Menefee, 2009) Leaders that are ‘strict and fair in meting out rewards and punishments has an impact on leadership, satisfaction, organizational commitment, team effectiveness, individual .and organizational performance.’ (Kuo, 2006) If a leader is perceived as being unfair, the action ‘will cause a negative impact on effectiveness.’ (Kuo, 2006)

The week six paper concerns Affecting Change in an organization. The organization in need of change is Smith and Falmouth. In the paper, the established methods of control and the current departmental and organizational cultures within the organization will be described. A restructuring strategy that will improve the culture and empower the employees will be recommended. In addition, the management practices that will be most effective in the organization will be described, as well as an explanation of how the new size and structure will affect the organization, individuals, groups, teams, and the organization’s future.

Individuals learn their behavior and beliefs from the people in which they grow up with. ‘Although each individual has unique talents and personal preferences, the behavior and beliefs of the people within the organization show common properties.’ (Ayden & Ceylan, 2009) The beliefs...