Assignment Brief

Student Name/ID
Number

Unit Number and Unit 24: Understanding and Leading Change

Title

Academic Year Semester 2, Academic Year 2023-2024

Unit Tutor Dr. Ta Van Canh

Assignment Title ULC 1: Drivers of Change and Organisational Impact (1 of 2)

31st January 2024
Issue Date

Submission Date 27th March 2024

Submission Format
The submission is in the form of an individual written report. This should be written in
a concise, formal business style using single spacing and font size 12. You are required
to make use of headings, paragraphs and subsections as appropriate, and all work must
be supported with research and referenced using the Harvard referencing system.

Please also provide a reference list using the Harvard referencing system. The
recommended word limit is 2,000–2,500 words, although you will not be penalised for
exceeding the total word limit.

Unit Learning Outcomes

LO1 Produce a comparative analysis of the different types and drivers of change in
business
LO2 Evaluate the impact of change on organisational behaviour

Transferable skills and competencies developed

- Competently use digital literacy to access a broad range of research sources, data and
information
- Analyzes and interprets numerical data, facilitating accurate problem-solving and
decision-making
- Demonstrates exemplary plan prioritization skills, ensuring efficient task management
and goal attainment
- Exhibits strong self-management skills, effectively organizing their time and resources
to meet deadlines and achieve success

Vocational Scenarios

Vinamilk (https://www.vinamilk.com.vn/en) desires to become one of the most

favourite brands in every region and territory. Therefore, Vinamilk keeps in their mind
and their heart that the quality and innovation are always their most important
companions.

COVID-19 is a harsh test for businesses and the whole economy, which compels
companies to adapt and change to not only survive but also recover and grow
stronger as soon as the pandemic is under control.
Each business will have a different way of solving this problem. At a typical large-
scale enterprise like Vinamilk, dual goals (stabilise production and prevent the
disease) are implemented based on three key spearheads: Governance, Technology
and People. Vinamilk has implemented a series of change management to achieve
these goals.

Flexible management for speedy response

For most businesses, even short-term production plans are usually drawn at least six
months in advance. However, continuous outbreaks of COVID-19 have changed this
significantly.
According to Vinamilk’s CFO Le Thanh Liem, businesses had to change their
planning from a 6-month or 1-year plan to a less than 3-month plan. This change is
necessary for this pandemic situation. The management board must closely monitor
and regularly update the market situation to make timely decisions.
For example, at the initial stage of the pandemic in Vietnam, Vinamilk had to find
ways to reduce inventory to optimise cash flow. But at the time when the disease
intensified, disrupting the supply chain and causing input materials to be in short
supply, Vinamilk adjusted its strategy to increase inventories to promptly supply
production activities.
"If keeping inventory at a normal level, it will not meet the plan implementation of the
next quarter," Liem said.
In addition, Vinamilk has taken advantage of its nationwide production and
distribution system to stabilise production even when some localities had to
implement social distancing measures.

Technology increases flexibility

 One of the most profound and obvious impacts of COVID-19 is forcing businesses to
move “from offline to online”. At this time, technology comes to the fore in ensuring
smooth business operations.
At Vinamilk, the employment of technology and investment in digital transformation
has been implemented for many years.
For example, the ERP system (enterprise resource planning) was employed 15 years
ago which helped facilitate sales and distribution activities, improving business
efficiency. The cashless payment system also helped Vinamilk’s payment system run
smoothly.
Vinamilk’s factories and farms all apply automation and 4.0 technology, ensuring
systematic and remote management.
"Vinamilk's supply chain operates entirely on the information technology system,
connecting from the input - the purchase of raw materials - to the final output - the
product to the consumer," Vinamilk’s representative said.
The company also equips technologies, tools and software to support communication
and remote work including e-Office, online browser system, solutions to help
employees access company data from home and digital signatures to ensure smooth
operation in the company and with partners even during the "work-from-home" time.

People - the decisive factor

Confronting COVID-19, human issues have become more important than ever. The
company and people must implement changes. The critical issue at this time is to
ensure the health and safety of employees to maintain stable business and
production amid the pandemic.
From the beginning of 2020, Vinamilk has established a professional support
committee for COVID-19 prevention and control, disseminating information and
guiding employees to comply with the preventive measures while being online 24/7
to support problems related to the disease. The company also provides employees
with preventive tools and nutritional products.
In addition, Vinamilk also makes employees feel secure to work with full salary and
welfare payment policy; enhancing support for employees at “three on-site” units; and
proactively supporting employees in testing and vaccination.
Braving challenges, Vinamilk still rose six notches to 36th position in the world’s Top
50 dairy producers by total sales in the 2021 ranking by UK-based Plimsoll Publishing
Ltd. The company also appeared in Brand Finance's Top 10 Most Valuable Milk
Brands in the world with a valuation of 2.4 billion USD.
Even when the pandemic is under control, the market picture will never return to the
way it was before. Businesses need not only strength and endurance, but also
flexibility and sensitivity to find development directions when the economy returns to
"new normal". Vinamilk has implemented the right changes through flexible
management, speedy response, technology and people.

Assignment activity and guidance

You as a trainee business analyst in a large organisation (VinaMilk) has been asked
by your superior to prepare a report based on comparative study. Using the case
scenarios, compare the impact that large-scale change has had upon the
organisation’s strategy and operations. Use appropriate theory to inform your
discussion. Your report should include evaluation on how the change will have
affected behaviours within the businesses and, using theory and models, propose
measures that could be taken to minimise negative impact on the businesses.
The report should include the following:
 1. An introduction to the drivers and impacts of change and how it affects
organisational strategy. Describe the context (VinaMilk), the problem statement
why and how the change impacts the organization.
2. Review a range of contemporary examples of organisational change and
their impact on business operations. Categorise or classify types of change
and different levels of change that affect organizations. Students can use different
criteria to classify different types of change. Give at least one example for each
category.
3. Compare drivers for change and their influence on organizational change.
Explain internal and external divers for change. Using the PESTLE model for
examining external drivers for change. In addition, students can use Burke-Litwin
to explain drivers for change.
4. Analyse drivers of change and the types of organisational change they have
affected. Critically analyse each type of driver for change and what change is
likely to occur for service and manufacturing organizations. Explain what type of
technology (Industry 4.0 technologies) might have a bigger impact organizations.
Explain how changing drivers might affect Vinamilk’s performance or
competitiveness.
5. Analyse how leadership and individual behaviour in organisations can be
affected by change. Explain different types of leadership, leadership ethics for
effective decision making. Explain both the positive and negative impact of
leadership and individual behaviour.
6. Evaluate measures that can be taken to minimise negative impacts of
change on organisational behaviour. Explain proactive and reactive
approaches to change management.
7. Critically evaluate the long-term implications of change on organisational
behaviour. Explain the role of organizational culture in the long-term change at
VinaMilk.
8. Make justified recommendations that would minimise impact of
organisational change on organisational behaviour. Explain why minimizing
the negative impact of organizational change is important and develop different
strategies to reduce the negative impact on organizational behaviour, for
example, effective leadership, effective development plans, training and
preparing employees, etc., for VinaMilk.

Recommended Resources
Please note that the resources listed are examples for you to use as a starting point in
your research – the list is not definitive

Textbooks
CAMERON, E. and GREEN, M. (2019) Making Sense of Change Management. 5th Ed.
London: Kogan Page.
DAWSON, P. and ANDRIOPOULOS, C. (2017) Managing Change, Creativity and
Innovation. 3rd Ed. London: Sage.
HODGES, J. and GILL, R. (2015) Sustaining Change in Organizations. London: Sage.
LEWIS, L. K. (2019) Organizational Change: Creating Change Through Strategic
Communication. Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell.
MEE-YAN, C-J. and HOLBECHE, L. (2015) Organization Development: a Practitioner's
Guide for OD and HR. London: Kogan Page.
NORTHOUSE, P. G. (2018) Leadership Theory and Practice. 8th Ed. London: SAGE.
PENDLETON, D. and FURNHAM, A. (2016) Leadership: All You Need to
Know.London: Palgrave Macmillan.
STANFORD, N. (2018) Organization Design: Engaging with Change. 3rd Ed.
London: Routledge.
Websites
www.businesstrainingworks.com Business Training Works
 Resources
(General reference)
www.managementtoday.com Management Today
Leadership
News and industry articles
(General reference)

www.mindtools.com Mind Tools

Leadership
Change Management
(General reference)

www.strategy+business.com Strategy and Business

Leadership
(Articles)

Learning Outcomes and Assessment Criteria

Pass Merit Distinction

LO1 Produce a comparative analysis of the different types and drivers

of change in business

P1 Review a range of M1 Analyse drivers for LO1 and LO2

contemporary examples of change and the types of D1 Make justified
organizational change and their organisational change recommendations that
they have affected. would minimise impact
impact on business operations.
of organisational
P2 Compare drivers for change
change on
and their influence on
organisational
organisational change.
behaviour.

LO2 Evaluate the impact of change on organisationalbehaviour

P3 Analyse how leadership and M2 Critically evaluate

individual behaviour in the long-term
organisations can be affected by implications of change
change. on organisational
P4 Evaluate measures that can behaviour.
be taken to minimise negative
impacts of change on
organisational behaviour.