Literature Review on "Staff Motivation Model of Organizational Change Understanding"

Literature Review 5 pages (2180 words) Sources: 5

[EXCERPT] . . . .

Staff Motivation

Model of Organizational Change

Understanding individual motivation begins the discussion of the relationship between that motivation, performance, and organizational change. From that inception point however, a framework by which to understand how organizational change unfolds and its effects on the individual is necessary for a full understanding of the dynamic. While there are multiple models of organizational change: 7-S, 3-stage Lewin, and Burke- Litwin, the best analysis tool is the Kotter-eight step model comprised of: establish a sense of urgency, form a guiding coalition, create a vision, communicate the vision, empower others to act, plan for and create short-term wins, consolidate improvements and produce more change, and institutionalize new approaches (Gilley, a. Gilley, J. & McMillian, H. 2009. pp 4/78). Using this framework the connection between employees, management, and the impact on organizational change can be discerned. Examination of a myriad of scholarly sources in the context of Kotter's eight-step model provides an informative basis for analysis.

2.4 Connection between Motivation and Incentives

In Motivation, incentives, and organizational culture, Patricia Milne focuses on the step of empowering broad based action from employees through open communication. The prevailing paradigm in organizations has been

Employees motivated to hoard knowledge because of the competitive advantage this gave them personally within their organization. From the perspectives of the employees, organizations are now asking them to share the very thing that earns them the positions they hold and their hope of financial reward and advancement. (Milne, P. 2007. pp 0/28)

Milne contends that organizations must "develop an organizational culture where these feelings can be overcome and the sharing of knowledge and learning becomes the norm" (Milne, P. 2007. pp 0/28). In developing this horizontal, free- flow communication organizational structure and culture, a focus on "incentive programmes can positively affect motivation, performance, and interest within an organization" (Milne, P. 2007. pp 9/37). This approach dovetails well with the Maslow and Herzberg motivational theories, indicative that individuals are motivated and inspired through incentives.

2.5 What Type of Change is Occurring?

As change unfolds and incentives are utilized to instill motivation and acceptance of the change directive, the question of the type of change is raised. Succinctly, most organizational change is imposed vs. voluntary change. In Personal Values and Conflicting Motivational Forces in the Context of Imposed Change; Noga Sverdlik and Shaul Oreg

Argue that in voluntary change there is a clear relationship between values and support for change. Contrarily, imposed change constitutes a unique setting in which individuals are prone to experience an internal value conflict, resulting in a more complex relationship between values and reactions to change. (Sverdlik, N. & Oreg, S. October 2009. pp 1438)

The ramification of their argument suggests that imposed change will provide obturations to implementing Kotter's stages: communicate the vision, empower others to act, and plan for and create short-term wins. Invariably, these steps can only be achieved through employees who are engaged and have incentive to implement the change directive. The imposed change subjects employees to greater stress in the decision making process of whether to embrace the change fully. The implication for management is to frame organizational change as in a portion or total, a voluntary choice which can benefit both the company and the individual employee.

2.6 Leadership and Change Agents

The establishment of urgency, the formation of a vision, and its effective communication to employees is dependent on management's leadership. Analyzing the effectiveness of change based on a leader's characteristic is the ostensible purpose of a study conducted by Ann and Jerry Gilley and Heather McMillan. Acknowledging that organizational change is largely imposed, their "results indicate the importance of approaching change from a person-centered perspective -- that organizational leaders who address issues of motivation and communications are more likely to successfully implement change" (Gilley, a. et al. 2009. pp 16/90). Again the factors of motivation and incentive on organizational performance and the efficacy of organizational change are recognized.

Raymond Caldwell's Models of Change Agency: a Fourfold Classification examines further the role of the leader in the sequencing, development, and implementation of Kotter's eight-step change model. Caldwell's analysis suggests that while an important piece of the change dynamic, the employees particularly managers and mid-level employees play the pivotal role in change solidification and institutionalizing new approaches. "The focus on the unique attributes, traits, or heroic qualities of change leaders has seriously underestimated the significance of managers and other change agents in the change process" (Caldwell, R. 2003. pp 10/140). If change is to be effective and long-lasting the organization must embrace the employee as a positive agent of transformation.

From the broad discussion of organizational change, motivation, incentives, and change agents, the next step is to analyze more specific instances of change, scenarios, and employees. The critical, relational practice of instructional design in higher education: an emerging model of change agency written by Katy Campbell, Richard a. Schwier, and Richard F. Kenny attempts to view specific change agents, instructional designers, and their affect on employees in a University setting. Drawing on the premise of Caldwell that employees are the most effective change agents: Campbell, Schwier, and Kenny limn the importance of instructional designers in the development of a communication narrative which empowers others to act; "the designer acting in relationship with others in a dialogue about how to create a social world of access, equity, inclusion, personal agency and critical action" (Campbell, K. Schwier, R. & Kenny, R. 2009. pp 17/661). The University setting is unique in its approach to the dissemination of information; where the organization norm is the protection and "hoarding of information" (Milne, P. 2007. pp 0/28) the University grows organically only through the development and exchange of information.

Continuing the theme of diversity and diffusion of change agents, researchers Buchanan, Addicott, Fitzgerald, Ferlie, and Baeza underscore the need to "broaden the collective leadership perspective vertically as well as horizontally to people and processes at other levels who are crucial to stimulating and implementing substantive change" (Buchanan, D. Addicott, R. Fitzgerald, L. Ferlie, E. & Baeza, J. 2007. pp 22/1085). Implementing change then becomes a function of the concatenation of engaged change agents and effective performance.

2.7 Specific Individual Motivations based on Gender

The next step of analysis is to examine the specific differences in motivation and performance based on demographic criterion: gender and age. David Winter and Nicole Barenbaum examine the role of responsibility and power in the workplace. Specifically, in terms of organizational structure the author's conclude that "both responsible women and responsible men who want power seek it in responsible ways and both "irresponsible" women and "irresponsible" men who want power seek it in irresponsible or profligate ways" (Winter, D. & Barenbaum, N.1985. pp 18/352). The effect of the author's research is that positive incentives must be in place to affect behavior, which in turn will positively impact organizational change.

In the modern workforce be it at a University or private business, more is expected of workers in terms of productivity, knowledge, and corporate awareness. The engaged worker is in essence an entrepreneur, working for themselves in terms of incentives and motivation, while performing a function for the organization. In this context a study by Shinnar, Pruett, and Toney entitled Entrepreneurship Education: Attitudes across Campus examines how gender affects the entrepreneurial spirit. The extrapolation of the results could be expected to determine how organizational incentives are structured. Interestingly however, "a student's gender makes no significant difference in terms of the perceptions examined. Although female students are less likely to enroll in entrepreneurship classes, findings indicate that they are as likely as male students to be interested in entrepreneurship" (Shinnar, R. Pruett, M. & Toney, B. 2009. pp 7/157).

Piggybacking on the entrepreneurship study and the examination of gender: Dodd, Gordon, and Smart in their piece Further Evidence on the Role of Gender in Financial Performance conclude that the fact that "gender fails to explain financial performance is positive because it signals that female-owned businesses are just as likely to prosper on average even though the effects of practice and personal characteristics differ" (Dodd, C. Gordon, I. & Smart, C. 2004. pp 20/414).

Yet, does this finding necessarily indicate that gender variances are not a relevant factor at all in organizational dynamics? A study by Cooper, Arkkelin, and Tiebert indicates that there are significant variances in career / family decisions based on gender. Invariably, these considerations in terms of hiring and maintaining a quality workforce throughout constant organizational change, suggests that gender incentives must be considered in developing meaningful rewards and incentives for motivational purposes.

2.8 Specific Individual Motivations based on Age

If Gender plays a role in the relationship between motivation, performance, and organizational change can the same be assumed for age distinctions? In a study by Bertolino, M. Truxillo, D. & Fraccaroli, F.; "results illustrate that age moderated the relationships of proactive personality with training motivation, perceived career development from training, and behavioral intentions" (Bertolino, M. Truxillo, D. & Fraccaroli, F. 2011. pp 9/257).The implication is that the design… READ MORE

How to Reference "Staff Motivation Model of Organizational Change Understanding" Literature Review in a Bibliography

Related Literature Reviews:

Mckinsey 7s Framework Congruence Model for Organization Capstone Project

McKinsey 7S Framework

Congruence Model for Organization Analysis

Burke-Litwin Model of Organizational Performance & Change

Force Field Analysis

Several organizations employ organization development (OD) strategies in order to j help… read more

Capstone Project 4 pages (1088 words) Sources: 5 Topic: Management / Organizations

---

Leading Organizational Change for Results White Paper

Leading Organizational Change for Results

Leadership of organizations face challenges in policy and decision-making, implementation, evaluation, and directing of individuals and organization in today's dynamic business environment. One of the… read more

White Paper 8 pages (2327 words) Sources: 8 Topic: Leadership / Mentoring

---

Dealing Effectively With Organizational Change Research Proposal

Dealing Effectively With Organizational Change

This study seeks to investigate how effectively individuals deal with organizational change. This literature will show how changes within organizations can be a stressful event… read more

Research Proposal 20 pages (8797 words) Sources: 30 Style: APA Topic: Management / Organizations

---

Organizational Change Project Analysis Term Paper

Nursing

Organizational Change Project Analysis

This two part report aims to create a plan for an organizational change. The associated change analysis will require some mandatory overtime for nursing professionals… read more

Term Paper 6 pages (2505 words) Sources: 1+ Topic: Healthcare / Health / Obamacare

---

Change Management Change Is One Thing Term Paper

Change Management

Change is one thing, progress is another.

Change' is scientific, 'progress' is ethical; change is indubitable, whereas progress is a matter of controversy."

Bertrand Russell (1872-1970) (Columbia)

Change… read more

Term Paper 8 pages (2066 words) Sources: 5 Style: APA Topic: Management / Organizations

---

View 100+ more related papers  >>