QUESTION 9

You have been contracted as a change manager to lead a programme that is aimed at
changing the attitude of a section of the Zimbabwe society that practices circumcision
the traditional way which the ministry of health advices is unsafe. What change
management strategies or approaches would be most appropriate to use and why?
Support your answer with relevant practical examples.

Change management strategy is a systematic approach to making adjustments to the

application of a set of tools, processes or skills during a project or initiative.

A change management strategy is a plan for how to make something different.

The goal of establishing a formal strategy is to ensure that any negative effects of change will
be minimised. To effectively institute a change management strategy, stakeholders must
create a plan for how to recognise when a change is need, how to approve changes, how to
implement changes to ensure they have brought about the desired effect.

As a change manager leading a programme that is aimed at changing the attitude of a section
of the Zimbabwe society that practices circumcision the traditional way which the ministry of
health advices is unsafe will apply Kurt lewin 3 step model of change to impart change in the
society. The model involves 3steps Unfreezing, Changing and Refreezing. The process of
change entails the perception that change is needed and then moving towards the new desired
level of behaviour and finally solidifying that new behaviour as the norm.

UNFREEZING

Before a change can be implemented it must go through the initial step of unfreezing because
many people will naturally resist change especially in this society were people have been
practising unsafe circumcision as part of their tradition and culture. The aim in this phase is
to create awareness of how the status quo or the current level of acceptability is hindering the
society, hence no management strategy will be successful without communication campaign
that will be successful without strong communication.For example awareness compains such
as road shows,councelling sections ,workshops adn sending the message through fliers and
poste.People are rational and will follow their self-interest once it is revealed to them. The
traditional way of circumcision has a negative impact on the society as a whole because it is
unsafe as it affect the health of the beings through spreading of STI and creating wounds that
takes time to heal or rather lead to death and some unfortunate events. So on this stage of
unfreezing it helps us communicate the change that comes with advantage of imparting
knowledge about the modern way of circumcision and how it benefits the society as a whole
.The idea is that the more the society knows about modern circumcision the more they feel it
is necessary and urgent the more motivated they are to accept it.

1. Define and change the vision - If people in the society do not understand the final goal of
the change it will be difficult for them to join in commit to it.

2.Top leaders need to be convinced - As a change manager assigned to lead this change
programme top leaders need to be convinced for examples herd men and chiefs of the society
for they are the most respected ones in the society. Since these leaders are the ones who lead
ceremonials activities they will be of great importance in spreading the change vision.

3. What is in it for me – Regardless of the change the ministry of health is working on this is
the first question that will pop up in the peoples mind whenever they hear about the change.
As a change manager I should be prepared to have the relevant knowledge about the change
at hand.

TRANSITION

This changing step is marked by implementation of the modern way of circumcision that is
regarded as more safe to use as compared to the traditional way. This is when the change
becomes real. It is also consequently the time that most people struggle with the new reality.
During this step the society begins to learn the new behaviours, processes and ways of
thinking. People are social beings and will adhere to cultural norms and values. The more
prepared they are for this step the easier it is to complete. For this reason education,
communication, support and time are critical for the society as they become familiar for the
change .Education about the modern way of circumcision can be done through workshops
and training programs which also provides incentives to lure the societal participation.

Recruit opnion leaders across the society

people whose voice or opinions have credibjlity in different areas of the society this will
increase the success of the change for example church leaders, chiefs and political leaders.

Involvent of equal commitment

the more involved the society is in the change the more supportive they will be towards it. for
example women's involvement to lure or convince their husbands and sons to use the safety
way of circumcision.

REFREEZING

With the fear that people will revert back to their old norms and values at this stage as the
change manager I will try to focus on cementing the new norms and values of safe
circumcision to the society by providing incentives to the people who practice safe
circumcision and also acknowledging good behaviours by people in the strategy..

Factors in selecting a change strategy

Generally speaking there is no single change strategy. You can adopt a general or what is
called a ‘grand strategy’ but, for any given initiative, you are best served by some mix of
strategies.

Which of the preceding strategies to use in your mix of strategies is a decision affected by a
number of factors

1 Degree of resistance

Strong resistance argues for a coupling of power-coercive and environmental-adaptive

strategies. Weak resistance or concurrence agues for a combination of empirical-rational and
normative-reductive strategies.

2. Target population

Large population argue for a mix of all four strategies, something for everyone so to speak.

3. The stakes
High stakes argue for a mix of all four strategies. When the stakes are high, nothing can be
left to change.

4. The time frame

Short timeframes argue for a power-coercive strategy. Longer time frames argue for a mix of
empirical-rational, normative-reductive, and environmental-adaptive strategies.

5. Expertise

Having available adequate expertise at making change argues for some mix of the strategies
outlined above. Not having it available argues for reliance on the power-coercive strategy.

6. Dependency

This is a classic double-edged sword. If the organisation is dependent on its people,

management’s ability to command or demand is limited. Conversely, if people are dependent
upon the organisation, their ability to oppose or resist is limited. (Mutual dependency almost
always signals requirement for some level of negotiation.)