bmgt364.10.11.2010 - Former Student Change I am a former...

© 2006 Robert H. Smith School of Business
University of Maryland
Former Student – Change
I am a former management student of yours and I was hoping that you
could give me some advice on how employees can go about implementing
change. Since graduating from UMD last spring I have started working with
a small advertising agency in …….
While the work that we produce for our clients is very professional and
impressive, internally the company is a mess. It is very difficult to go about
proposing new ideas due to what I call "internal bureaucracy" , and
processes that should take hours to complete take months.
As a new hire, I have a lot of ideas for improving efficiency within the
company as well as new ways in which we can expand our current
product/service offerings. However, I can foresee that my company may not
be too thrilled with the "new guy" attempting to implement dramatic change.

© 2006 Robert H. Smith School of Business
University of Maryland
As I am by far the youngest and least experienced employee
within the company I feel that my ideas may either be overlooked or
taken as criticism towards the current systems that we have in place.
I would really appreciate it if you had any suggestions on ways
to go about submitting/implementing my ideas in order to inspire
change within this company. I know that our ad agency has a lot to
offer our clients, and this is evident in the work that we do; however,
given a proper internal "makeover", our agency could drastically
increase its efficiency and overall output. I really appreciate you
taking the time to help out a former Van Munching student. Thank
you.

© 2006 Robert H. Smith School of Business
University of Maryland
Organizational Change
Can People Change When it is a Matter of
Actual Life or Death?

© 2006 Robert H. Smith School of Business
University of Maryland
Change or Die
“What if a well-informed, trusted authority figure said you had to
make difficult and enduring changes in the way you think and
act? If you didn't, your time would end soon. Could you change?
You wouldn't change.”
Yes, you say?
Try again.
Yes?
You're probably kidding yourself.
The scientifically studied odds: nine to one that you will
not change.

© 2006 Robert H. Smith School of Business
University of Maryland
Five Myths about Change
Myth 1 – Crisis is a powerful impetus for change.
Reality – 90% of patients who’ve had coronary bypasses don’t
sustain changes in the unhealthy lifestyles that worsen their severe
heart disease and greatly threaten their lives.
Myth 2 – Change is motivated by fear.
Reality – It’s too easy for people to go into denial of the bad things
that might happen to them. Compelling, positive visions of the
future are a much stronger inspiration for change.