Carl works for a company going through changes. In the past, they organized along brand structures. Each department and division operated independently with its own accounting, human resource, administrative divisions and so forth. The new structure will follow functional lines of authority. All duplicated functions will group along common processes. Carl feels confused and threatened by the changes. He worries if his job will survive.
The Problem
Management regularly informs employees of the process through a special monthly newsletter and quarterly meetings with the chief operating officer. The COO ends each meeting with an encouragement for each employee to “stay the course”.
Carl’s department was one of the first affected by the changes. The department director moved to a new position. They did not replace him, but folded the headquarters staff of that department in with one of the new processes. No changes occurred in the field.
Carl’s direct supervisor sends messages instructing the department to implement changes being considered. Some of the changes
- Eliminate successful products and services
- Reduce Carl’s management responsibilities and potentially his salary
- Focus him on delivering more direct services to clients
- Increase the hours he personally must work, while reducing what he can delegate
- Allow greater service to clients too far away to receive help in the facility
- Reduce duplication of effort, cost, and overhead
- Provide a pathway to grow the company by 800% over 25 years
- Open new markets that the current structure could not sustain
What Would You Do?
Carl loves his job and the organization. Carl supports the new direction. He wonders if his department considers all the consequences before sending instructions. What should he do?
- Implement proposed changes immediately as suggested by his supervisor
- Stay the course by continuing to do what he has done until more guidance
- Discuss his concerns with colleagues and fellow workers
- Find a new job immediately before the changes affect him too much
Please share, in the comments section below, what you would do.
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