Organizational Change Process Heather Holshouser, Shadava Jackson, Vicky Moss, Aarika Vallejo, Lourdes Weaver AET 560 University of Phoenix Gregory Dlabach

Organizational Change Process Organization - Department of Veterans Affairs-Employee Education System Division Scenario - New CLO hired and decided to realign the divisions within the Employee Education System Current organizational structure: Nine centers located throughout the United States Each center has program managers and program support assistants as staff Each center is assigned several national program offices in the VA to assist in designing, planning and implementing their health education trainings Each center provided all modalities that included face to face, webinars, and e-learning

Recommended Changes Staff would be aligned to be modality specialists Virtual organization implemented Assistant Directors will be re-aligned to specific division based on the modality of training Staff at all centers will be divided up to work in divisions, creating new work teams in Face to Face Events, Broadcast and Video, eLearning, Learning Consultants, and Client Services Teams will be divided up into the new modality teams and form new virtual teams to support the program office clients

Theories Max Weber Theory of Management Also called the Bureaucratic Management Theory Key Elements of the Max Weber management theory include: Clearly defined job roles A hierarchy of authority Standardized procedures Meticulous record-keeping Hiring employees only if they meet the specific qualifications for a job Skilled consultant may be hired that is well versed in Weber’s theory as well as in change management Create company wide educational programs that make employees feel they are an important part of the transition Encourage greater participation in the change

Kurt Lewin’s Field Theory in Social Science Three Stages: Stage One - Unfrozen and identify the current state of affairs, determine the issues that needs resolved Stage Two- Implementation of the identified change State Three - Refreeze and keep the changes or reinforcements that have been implemented Must recognize and identify the undesirable behavior and educate the employees on how to change the outcome The Lewin Field Theory is a commitment to improvement and the change leader is willing to look for opportunities and takes risks.

Rationale for Max Weber Theory of Managment The Department of Veteran Affairs Employee Education System division can benefit from Max Weber Theory of Management because it provides a more formal and rigid structure of organization also known as bureaucracy. Since each department will be divided into specific division, allowing individuals with higher position to specialize in a specific area of the education system and watch over individuals in lower position, making each group subject matter experts. This will also make rules and regulation for each specific division easier to facilitate and clearly defined job roles for employees. Department of Veterans Affairs will have several groups spread out the department, which will allow manager to build and maintain impersonal relationships with their employees and ensure managers will be unbiased and give equal treatment towards all employees. Placing employees into groups using this theory will allow management to assess and evaluate which employee to place in each group based off their skills and experience and not personal choice.

Rational for Kurt Lewin’s Change Management Kurt Lewin’s Change Management theory will provide The Department of Veteran Affairs employees a better understanding of the change process. This theory provides a clear and effective way to communicate change to employees that will benefit the organization during the transition. Management will effectively communicate with employees in regards to why the change is necessary and deal with any uncertainty before the change take place. Employees will have time to adjust and begin or continue to support the change making the transition into specific teams easier and faster. Placing individual into specific groups and creating new groups will require additional training and support to ensure employees are staying on the right track. The department of Veteran Affairs will be able to check and ensure the change is making progress and employee are using and following the new process and procedures that have been implemented. Kurt Lewin’s theory will ensure The Department of Veteran Affairs employees will be comfortable and supportive that future changes will be successful which will create a positive environment going forward.

References Cawsey, T. F., Deszca, G., & Ingols, C. (2012). Organizational change. Sage Publication. Terry, L. (2011) The Management Theory of Max Weber: Use the bureaucratic management theory to increase efficiency.