General Motors Corporation Change Management Business Essay

General Motors Corporation Change Management Business Essay Background of change The ever lasting truth of the universe is change. People, organizations, markets change every second. This change is stimulated by the environment. On individual level people manage change by changing there routines and habits, which is relatively simple. Change in an organization is complex but follows the same rules, organizations like an individual have to change there habits and routines. The organizations who have failed to cope with the change have crumbled under the feet of time either disappearing or being acquired by other companies. For example skybird, tucker corporation, wirgin, tohatsu, clover, British satellite broadcasting, world champion wrestling, archandor, and most recently general which filled chapter 11 bankruptcy. These organizations were unable to recognize the change in the environment and were rejected by the environment. The organizations that have been proactive and managed change have been success stories .i.e. Microsoft, 3com and us robotics, Cadbury and Kraft etc. these organizations have changed there strategies at the right time, they were the leaders of market change. Introduction to General Motors General Motors Corporation (GM) is the worlds largest full-line vehicle manufacturer and marketer. Its arsenal of brands includes Chevrolet, Pontiac, GMC, Buick, Cadillac, Saturn, Hummer, and Saab. Opel, Vauxhall, and Holden comprise GMs international nameplates. Through its system of global alliances, GM holds stakes in Isuzu Motors Ltd., Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd., Suzuki Motor Corporation, Fiat Auto, and GM Daewoo Auto Technology. Other principal businesses include General Motors Acceptance Corporation and its subsidiaries, providers of financing and insurance to GM customers and dealers. In the early 2000s, struggling under the weight of escalating healthcare and pension costs, GM sought to shed some of its less profitable activities. Toward that end, among other moves, the company sold its stake in Hughes Electronics, phased out production of the Oldsmobile, and discontinued the Chevrolet Camero and Pontiac Firebird. Facing a tough economic climate, GM has nevertheless retained its position as the worlds leading automaker. Models of change management Now companies have realized the need for change and change management. That is the reason many scholars came up with different models of change management. There are some simple models of change and then there are some complex models. simple models are helpful but do not identify the needs of current economy Simple models which follow the approach that one size fits all Lewins model Unfreeze the current paradigm of the organization. This involves understanding the need for change. Then communicating that need to the people. People should be open to change in structure, behavior and thinking. Change the organization paradigm by introducing new theories in the organization. This is a lengthy process as the new method will take time to sink in. people will question the new method thus it is important that there is a strong channel for feedback. Refreeze the changed paradigm. This is the stage where the change is inculcated into the organization and people followed the changed methods as a part and parcel of the organization. Kotters 8 steps creating a vibe of change into the members gather supporters to guide change create a vision explain the vision to the supporters empower people to follow and spread the vision create shot objective or milestones improvements and feedback Inculcation of change by making it a part of structure and system. Complex model which recognize the need of individual organizations. Johnson Scholes and Whittingtons model identifies the variables that the organization faces. Time is how quickly change is needed. This can be identified by the Balogun and Hailys model. Scope is the degree of change that is necessary. Continuity what is the incremental factor History is the past experience of change Skills what capabilities are required and what do we have. Resources which are available for change management. Readiness is the willingness of people to accept change. Power is where the of the organization lies i.e. with management employees, stakeholders etc. McKinsey 7S framework identifies the areas that management need to focus on in order to manage change effectively Structure is the hierarchy and the departmentalization of the organization before and after the change. Strategy is the plans that organization makes i.e. when to compete? Where to compete? And when to compete? System is the alignment of the strategy with the business objective and at what level evolutionary stage the organization stands. Shared values is what type of culture prevails in the organization Style is the leadership style of the management. How are decisions made? Staff is the human resource of the organization. How trained they are and what staff is needed? Skill is the organizations ability to use its resources. Thus measure of the efficiency of the organization. Need for strategic change in General motors General motor is a fallen giant. Glory of the past from being a great market leader to bankrupt company General motors has come a long way. In 1980s GM was the top car manufacturer in the USA until the arrival of the Japanese cars. The Japanese sold cheap and better cars. GM failed to realize the change in the industry and technology and constantly lost market share to the Japanese companies. Even with government support the company filled chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2009. The strategies of the Japanese and GM can be compared with each other and get to what GM needs to do in order to get its former glory. The strategies that have been used by GM are heavy discounting to capture or retain market share. Strategic intervention techniques The purpose of intervention techniques is to improve the efficiency and the effectiveness of the organization. Strategic intervention techniques focus on improving the processes through which ideas are generated and then gain feedback on the ideas. These techniques make some thing happen and also focus on what is happening French Bell Jr (1994). The reasons for interventions can be To gain feedback To educate people To invoke rapid change in the organization. Rapid and sudden change in the external environment Intense competition Driving forces for change in GM Driving forces are the reason that GM requires to change its strategy and align itself with the environment. Few of the forces that pressure Gm to change are as follows Low economic growth in the car manufacturing business has stumped most of the manufacturers. Car manufacturers on government support are making cars at a loss but yet there cars are in the market and cutting the market share of other companies. Japanese car manufacturers are making better cars at low price which is the main competition for GM. Change in technology in the industry has been an issue. Honda and Toyota have advanced in technology at a higher rate than GM. Rising oil prices have also caused the industry to rethink there strategy. Resource implications for GM GM CEO Rick Wagoner has put in a lot of effort to turn around GM since 1992.but his response to change in the environment was too slow. The resources of GM can be evaluated using 5 Ms model Money has been the problem for GM for sometime now but government is ready to help them but they do not have a turn around strategy. Manpower of GM has not been able to generate new ideas which show dulled motivation, and poor creativity skills by the management and other employees. Also GM is stuck in contacts with employees with huge pensions. Minutes time frame for adaptation has always been short for GM and it has always lagged behind the need of time. Material has very special item oil which has sky rocketed. So the price of car manufacturing is rising as well as the price of maintaining a car. Machinery has been the major issue for GM as its competitors have acquired new machinery and processes which are better than that of GM. Due to these factors GM has not been able to change. These are the forces that create resistance for change. Change and stakeholders Stakeholders are an integral part of the organizational paradigm. To bring change in the organization, stakeholders should own the change. The process of change should start from within the stakeholders. To change the culture stakeholders should realize that there is a need for change. Then they should be directed into the right direction. In Kotters 8 steps model for change the role of stakeholders can be incorporated. The model pushes the organization to make its own decision and define its process of change. Kotters model for change for GM Kotter gives a model of change in the organization in which the stakeholders are empowered to make change for themselves. I shall use this model to explain how GM can bring about change in the organization with the help of its stakeholders. Step 1: Create urgency For change to occur it is necessary the whole organization realizes the need for change and puts its effort in making the change. For this purpose managers can paint a grim picture of the future if continued on the same path. Explain to the shareholders the increase in ability of the organization to exploit its resources. There should be feed back from the stakeholders and there ideas should be incorporated in the change process. In case of GM it is not very difficult to paint a grim picture because the next step to bankruptcy is liquidation. The decline in the performance of the company has been a question mark for a long time now. So in GM people are ready for change and stakeholders support the management. Now there is need for discussions so that the ideas and the wills of the stakeholders can be incorporated in the change process. Step 2: Coalitions This is the point where the leadership emerges; people among the stakeholder should take charge of the groups. It is necessary that to identify the key leadership and make them commit to the change in the organization. This is necessary that people who are selected for the leadership believe in the change. In case of General Motors they have to find leaders in order to bring change. Recognition of the people who will help GM to evolve and to accept the changed processes is necessary, if it wishes to make any type of change in its strategy. Step 3: Vision for change When the process of change starts there are many idea of floating. All these ideals need to be linked together if in order to form a vision. This vision needs to be simple and understandable. The vision gives people a sense of direction; they understand the purpose of the change. For change to be successful you need to know the main idea behind the change. For this purpose prepare a summary of the future endeavors of the company. Knowing about the future helps people to support the organization. In case of General Motors the mission statement is quite clear G.M. is a multinational corporation engaged in socially responsible operations, worldwide. It is dedicated to provide products and services of such quality that our customers will receive superior value while our employees and business partners will share in our success and our stock-holders will receive a sustained superior return on their investment. But unfortunately General Motors has not been able to deliver. The vision of the General Motors needs to be communicated effectively through the organization. Every stakeholder needs to believe in the mission statement of General Motors. Step 4: Communication of vision Every person in the organization needs to know the objective of the change. The previous paradigm of the company will produce resistance against the new method. The New Mission statement needs to overcome the resistance and unite the organization on a single path to success. For this the management needs to address all the doubts and problems of the people. Divide the vision into smaller objectives and tie the performance of individual with the achievement of these objectives. In General Motors the management should take responsibility of communicating process of change through the organization. A process of change developed from the input of stakeholders is easier to communicate back. Step 5: Remove obstacles In the process of change, there will always be resistance. The objective of the management is to minimize this resistance and bring the stakeholders to a common platform on which everybody can express their opinion. As the process of change moves forward, there should be constant checks for any barriers to change. In General Motors the inner management has failed to provide change in the organization. The change in GM can be induced from the outside; perhaps a change agent will help GM over come change barriers. Another good way to bring about change is to award the people who embrace the change. Step 6: Create short term objectives For the process of change to work people need to know that it is working. For this management can divide the main objective in to simpler objectives. The management should thoroughly analyze the short term objectives such that they are achievable and motivation. For the achievement of every objective the employees should be rewarded. In General Motors that management need to step up and divide their long-term objectives into the short term goals. The management should make the stakeholders believe that they are capable of changing the business for the better. The most important stakeholder of GM is the government. The government needs to know that that GM can stand on its feet, for it to bail out the company. Step 7: Build on the change The process of change is not complete he unless and until the change culture has inculcated into the organization. Changes in many organizations fail because they do not fully implement the changed processes. The changed processes should become part and parcel of life in the organization. The people of the organization need to build on the changed processes and achieve even more success. The management of General Motors should not stop at making the government believed that they deserve a bailout, but should make efforts to build on the changed processes. Step 8: Change in corporate culture The most difficult thing to do in bringing about change into the organization is to change the culture of the organization. In history many of the mergers in companies have failed because they unable to merge the culture of the companies. Changing the culture of the company is a very long and hard process. General motors will need to change the culture and introduce a fresh method to succeed in an unattractive industry. At this point the employees of General Motor will not be motivated; the management needs to bring faith back into the employees. Monitoring progress and conclusion The final step in the management of change would be to monitor the performance of the company. For this purpose appraisal of each of the activities of the company will be performed. The justification of activity will provide grounds by which the productivity of the activity will be measured. The idea of kaizen should become a part of the activities of the business. The process of change is very lengthy; it takes years for change process to become part of the culture. The management of the organization needs to be very patient and need to prioritize their objectives. In General Motors it is necessary that people accept the change and once the changed processes have settled in there should be continuous evaluation and revaluation. The U.S market has become very saturated thus not allowing the companies to grow as fast as they would like. For the companies to survive they need to use there resources with utmost efficiency.

Paul on Grace Essay

The purpose for this paper is to provide historical background on Paul and grace. I will also provide how it is applied to modern times, how it has changed my life as well as my learning goals from this paper on Paul and grace. Paul embraced God’s grace after his conversion and call and informed others about it. He expresses consistently how grace is the solitary reason that salvation is attained. Researches of articles of the subject as well as Paul’s epistles provide evidence of this. According to Paul, â€Å"by grace we are saved,† (Ephesians 2:8). Historical Information About Paul on Grace: There is no doubt that Paul was chosen by God to be the vessel to communicate His good news to others. Cornelius R. Stam a writer for www.bereanbiblesociety.org points out that Paul has more to say about grace than any other writers of the Bible. Stam says, â€Å"The Hebrew equivalent of Paul’s word for grace is found only 68 times in the whole Old Testament (which is nearly twelve times the size of Paul’s epistles) and then not always relating to God’s grace, and never to the dispensation of Grace.† In the four Gospels (nearly twice the size of Paul’s epistles) the word grace (Gr. charis) with its derivatives appears in the original only 13 times. Furthermore, in Paul’s epistles the word grace is nearly always used in association with â€Å"the dispensation of the grace of God.† Paul wrote greatly concerning grace. Each epistle signed by Paul opens with an assertion of grace and peace  "from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.† Paul’s epistles reveal that we are under grace rather than the law. In them we discover that we are â€Å"justified freely by [God’s] grace† (Rom. 3:24). He also informs us that â€Å"where sin abounded grace did much more abound† (Rom. 5:20). Paul asserts that â€Å"God is able to make all grace abound† to us in order for us to â€Å"abound to every good work† (II Cor. 9:8). â€Å"Grace† is used in the book of Acts 4 times before the raising up of Paul and 12 times afterwards. However, before his raising, the term was not used toward the dispensation of grace or toward salvation by grace. After his conversion is when the word is used often and toward the dispensation of grace and salvation by grace. According to www.gracepoints.com, â€Å"Paul was the first to refer by divine inspiration to â€Å"the dispensation of the grace of God, which is given me to you-ward† (Eph. 3:2), and to â€Å"the ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus to testify the gospel of the grace of God† (Acts 20:24).† Before Paul, no one had ever mentioned the dispensation or the gospel of the grace of God. Above all, Paul revealed the most important doctrine that concerns our salvation. And that is that â€Å"By grace we are saved† (Eph. 2:8). Ernest L. Martin, Ph.D., asserts in an article that Paul’s definition of grace can be found on II Timothy 2:15 which says, â€Å"Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that neededth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.† In other words, we are to divide the Gospel rightly so that there is no confusion among those we teach. Martin, expresses that â€Å"Paul was speaking of the fact that only a remnant of Israelites were then accepting Christ in the proper manner and he said this remnant was by the â€Å"election of grace†. Martin also asserts that from Paul he understood that salvation requires no works of a man. This seems strange at first, but it is until one reads II Timothy 1:9 that it makes sense. II Timothy 1:9 â€Å"Who [God] hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not ac cording to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.† †Paul is emphatic in stating that his ministry is a product of grace; he explains that his ministry is ‘according to the gift of grace which given to me according to the working of His power† Eph 3:7. The notion that Paul’s ministry is due to God’s grace is confirmed by his saying, ‘But I labored more than them all, and yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me†1 Cor 15:9-10,† www.embracehisgrace.com . In I Cor. 15:10 Paul says, â€Å"by the grace of God I am what I am. As stated before, Paul had loads to say on the subject of grace. Paul acknowledged how important grace was especially concerning his salvation. He wished grace upon the recipients of his letters at the start of his epistles as a means of letting them know he was wishing or praying good health upon them (Rediscovering Paul An Introduction to His World, Letters and Theology pg. 58)All of his epistles are proof of that. They not only affected his time as they affect contemporary life as well. Application to Contemporary Life: For Christians, Paul’s words on grace are applied in contemporary life as a reminder of how we are saved and just how good God is. The apostle Paul insists that salvation is given to us only by grace. For us to have perfect righteousness by our good works is impossible. It is Christ’s good works that count. According to www.askelm.com, â€Å"God gives us salvation by grace as a gift.† In his letter to Ephesus, Paul said, â€Å"For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God: not of works lest any man should boast,† (Ephesians 2:8). The website also explains how grace and works are completely opposites. â€Å"Rewards come by the practice of works, but mercy comes by the application of grace.† Grace is a wholesome gift that is freely given. God gives it to us constantly, especially when we deserve the total opposite. Conversely, the law is always associated with works and deeds. The breaking of law results in wages being paid—the wages of death (Romans 6:32). As Paul said, â€Å"the law entered, that the offence [sin] might abound, but where sin abounded, grace did much more abound† (Romans 5:20). No matter how much believers mess up, God’s grace frees them from its severe penalties. No matter the good deed people try to do to make things better, it is ultimately His grace that overrides it all. Knowing this relieves burdens on the numerous Christians that consistently do wrong. It is knowing how gracious God is that informs them that everything will be okay as He is in control. Christ places salvation at our reach. It is up to us to walk by faith and grab it. Christ did what no man can do and that is maintain a perfect record of righteousness. Therefo re, the Father put Christ as the substitute to account for everyone’s righteousness. He paid the debt of all to God which is why all inherit grace from Him. Once again, to Paul, salvation is exclusively from grace. â€Å"But of him are you in Christ Jesus, who of God is made UNTO US wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption,† (I Cor. 1:30) Through the acceptance of Christ and being in Him, God has made us to be in perfect wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. He wiped the slate clean that all generations from back then to contemporary times may receive the kingdom of Heaven. According to searchingforgrace.com, Paul went to extreme measures to highlight just how significant and devastating this false teaching was, going so far as to say that it was actually disabling the grace empowered life within them. â€Å"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery,† (Galatians 5:1-2). This is a reminder as those of today read the Bible of how gracious God is. Specific behaviors, values, or preferences your research has brought you personally: Researching this topic has been a constant reminder of just how amazing God is. Without Him there is no me. Just because we are saved by His grace is no excuse to sin it up just for the fun it. Appreciating God’s grace is the best thing I can do along with do what is right to the best of my ability. There is always room to improve in my life but God’s grace lets me know that He still loves me no matter what. With Him on my side through His grace I know that I can overcome it all. Paul showed how much he valued and appreciated grace as he constantly talked about it and spread the Word to others. God was gracious enough to change Paul’s life for the better and allow him to inform others of the Gospel. He has certainly done the same for me. This is why I do my best to share the Gospel with others as much as I can. Paul reminds me that by His grace I am saved! Personal Learning Goals from Research: My personal goals from this research paper would be to keep the faith and always remember how gracious God is. I must embrace what I’ve learned more. In all that I do I must remember to keep Him first above anyone else. Finally, I must continue to inform others of the Gospel and His grace. Conclusion: In closing, Paul made it clear how valuable God’s grace is. He shared the news with everyone he could. His epistles have served as a constant reminder of this. Knowing of God’s grace and believing in it has changed my life! I can now share the news with others. May it continue to bless others as it has blessed me.

Critical Analysis Essay Example Secrets That No One Else Knows About

Critical Analysis Essay Example Secrets That No One Else Knows About Introducing Critical Analysis Essay Example Although some students like providing a great deal of information in the debut, it is wise to be brief and direct. Due to the awesome range within psychology, the absolute most regularly appropriate forms of critical thought have an inclination to differ in many topics. The info will aid your reader understand the essence of the job under analysis. Among the places where I feel I have needed to use my critical thinking skills is in the region of gauging information on the Internet. The second factor to think about is depth of analysis. Even though the important reflection procedure may appear simple it could be in depth based on the situation accessible. Getting critical is an additional consideration. One of the primary problems is the shortage of human to human connectivity that's a huge deal in a country like India. If you discover that the writer did not provide precisely what you expected, request a revision, and we'll make the corrections. When writing creatively, there are lots of matters you ought to think about. Your summary of the job will be contained within the body. The history teacher or assignment outline may request a certain number of paragraphs. The One Thing to Do for Critical Analysis Essay Example Before you start your essay, it's important to examine an outline. Before you begin your essay, it's important to think about an outline. Don't forget to proofread your critical essay once you are finished with that. In general, it co uld be less difficult to write than a first-person essay! The paragraphs which form the body of a history essay provides historical evidence to back up the thesis statement. Nowadays it's very hard to locate a trustworthy essay writing service. Nevertheless, critical essays are more than simply a review of the contents of the other work that you want to write upon. It is very important to discover genuine sources which provide dependable and accurate information lest one's essay is full of lies and inaccurate details. Getting the Best Critical Analysis Essay Example While reading the text, or watching the movie, it's essential to note the critical concepts and ideas an author or director or painter made a decision to incorporate in their work. Also, it's going to enable you to be certain of the author's skills and get a sensible advice about any subject you find difficult. For instance, if you're critically analyzing a slice of literature, you need to consider the characters, the setting, the plot, and any other parts your instructo r deems worthy. Do not automatically think that because your reader knows what you're writing about, you don't need to mention the work's title. It is extremely important to put forth the notion of the author of the text you've picked up. Evaluate whether the author has achieved the purpose of their written work. When someone understands what the writer or speaker is attempting to convey, they are ready to agree or disagree with the writer or speaker as they have the knowledge to produce their choice. Top Critical Analysis Essay Example Secrets Critical reflection is believed upon at all times by the majority of people on an everyday basis. Studies show that lots of folks who can read and write in paper and pen doesn't understand the way to use the net and thus are being unable to use the e-governance initiatives that the government is coming up with. Critical thinking is crucial to any writing project. Simply paraphrasing somebody else's work is still regarded to be plagiarism. If you've a lready graduated from college or university and are looking for an excellent job, you want to get a persuasive resume to impress your future employer. For instance, suppose you're studying Moby-Dick. Why Almost Everything You've Learned About Critical Analysis Essay Example Is Wrong In contrast to popular belief by a considerable part of students, critical essay writing isn't about criticizing or focusing on the negative element of analysis. The Introduction contains the vital facts which are likely to be shown in each paragraph. Asking the correct questions gives a person more specific information regarding the situation. Formulate the statement you prefer to make about this issue you stated. The topic is going to have some say in the order that you pick. It is very important to select the topic you're interested and familiar with.

Comparing The Poem From Wild, And The Excerpt From The...

The excerpt from Wild, and the excerpt from, The Woman Warrior, both portray different characteristics of motherhood. In both texts, mothers are referenced and sometimes major characters in the writing pieces. However, when you read both of these titles, it becomes clear, very quickly, how differently mothers act towards their children, and are portrayed by their children. I chose to write about these two titles, because they were capturing stories, which drew the reader in to their storylines and emotions. When reading both of these titles, it is clear that the loving mother represented in Wild, differs significantly from the mother characters portrayed in The Woman Warrior. This essay will show the differences and similarities, of the mother characters in both stories, as well as compare and contrast the mother’s with specific examples, from both of these pieces. My favorite thing about reading Wild, was how emotional it made me feel. When an author can grab their readerâ₠¬â„¢s attention, and make them feel their emotions, portrayed through the text, it is powerful. This piece brought out emotions because, it was strongly influenced from the author’s mother. It is easy for a reader to know how she must have felt, when they reflect on the love they have for their own parent. During Cheryl Strayed’s story, she expressed numerous times, how much her mother loved her, and her siblings. It was clear that her mom’s love was immeasurable, and she was aware of that. â€Å"Do I love youShow MoreRelatedThe Home and the World5529 Words   |  23 PagesThe Home and the World From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search The Home and the World    | Book cover | Author | Rabindranath Tagore | Original title | à ¦ËœÃ  ¦ °Ã  §â€¡ à ¦ ¬Ã  ¦ ¾Ã  ¦â€¡Ã  ¦ °Ã  §â€¡ Ghare Baire | Country | India | Language | Bengali | Genre(s) | Autobiographical novel | Publication date | 1916 | Media type | Print (Hardback Paperback) | ISBN | NA | The Home and the World 1916 (in the original Bengali, à ¦ËœÃ  ¦ °Ã  §â€¡ à ¦ ¬Ã  ¦ ¾Ã  ¦â€¡Ã  ¦ °Ã  §â€¡ Ghà ´re Baire, lit. At home [and] outside) is a 1916Read MoreOrganisational Theory230255 Words   |  922 Pagesdilemmas. The book engages in an imaginative way with a wealth of organizational concepts and theories as well as provides insightful examples from the practical world of organizations. The authors’ sound scholarship and transparent style of writing set the book apart, making it an ingenious read which invites reflexivity, criticalness and plurality of opinion from the audience. This is a book that will become a classic in organization studies. Mihaela L. Kelemen, Professor of Management Studies, Keele