71338/A

Assessment 2

Worth
30%

Introduction
This assessment is designed to test your ability to appraise
appropriate change strategies and processes.
For this assessment you are required to consider strategic options for
change in a given scenario. This will involve the analysis of one case
study in the light of the course material to date and your own
independent research.
The case to be considered will be advised to you separately.
You have been volunteered to present a written report in response
to some specific questions. Further background to your actual role is
described in the Format and length section below.
Although those aspects covered in Module 1 cannot be ignored, the
emphasis of this assessment relates to the material in Module 2.
Where appropriate, draw parallels with your own learning or
experiences but ensure that these do not detract from the primary
objective.

Format and length

The format should be in the form of a written report to the
organisations Management Board. You should assume that you are a
permanent employee and a member of the Management Board. You
may also assume that you are not concerned about your own future
in the organisation so your report should be objective and
impartial!
Although you have been asked specific questions, ensure that your
completed assignment is appropriately integrated. Appropriate
headings and a Table of Contents should be provided, but do not
present separate answers to the questions. An Executive Summary is
not required.

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Assessment

71338/A
The Board is under a lot of pressure at present and the Chief
Executive Officer has demanded that your report be no longer than
2000 words. You may take the liberty to add appendices without any
fear of retribution - as long as those appendices are appropriate.

Issue
What are the strategic options for managing change?

Process
The Management Boards questions are set out below:
1.

What are the key constraints that we face?

2.

What broad strategy would you recommend in this situation?

3.

What options do we have?

4.

What is your recommendation regarding an approach to

managing the change?

Content standards
The following are some suggested pointers to assist you to answer
the specific questions.
1.

2.

What are the key constraints that we face?

Peruse the case to identify the possible organisational

constraints.

Assess their importance and evaluate their likely impact.

What broad strategy would you recommend in this situation?

3.

What options do we have?

Assessment

In considering a strategy, you should select a perspective

that is appropriate to the internal influences and the external
context and that reflects the goals of the organisation.

Taking into consideration external influences and such

aspects as internal structure, culture, learning and
management behaviour, decide whether the situation is
more appropriate to a planned or emergent approach.

Copyright The Open Polytechnic of New Zealand

71338/A

4.

Explore a range of possible options, and justify their validity.

What is your recommendation regarding an approach to

managing the change?

What option(s) does this organisation realistically have for

managing change, given this situation?

Assess the appropriateness.

Recommend and justify your preferred option.

Copyright The Open Polytechnic of New Zealand

Assessment