Organizational change involves adapting the structure and strategies of a company to meet business needs and improve general operations. Effective change management keeps an organization running efficiently and competitively during the transition, and the process requires managers and other leaders to manage organizational change to ensure success. As businesses transform to meet the new demands of an ever-changing marketplace, they need to handle the challenges of organizational change.
The online Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a Management Specialization program from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) can help students broaden their capabilities to manage resources globally while sharpening their business skills across various trades. This online MBA in Management program applies to anyone who needs to pair human resource management with analytical skills. Students will study how influence and leadership shape managerial effectiveness, interpersonal and negotiation skills for managers, process analysis and operations management.
What Is Organizational Change?
Organizational change happens when a company needs to shift its structure to improve operations. A smooth and effective transition cannot occur without organizational change management leaders. The reason for significant changes in a business can happen for a few important reasons.
When new leadership takes control, a new CEO typically has new ideas for running the business and making it more successful. Using updated or new technology can instigate a difficult learning curve. Training employees to use new technology can significantly impact the day-to-day business activities and general work environment.
Keeping up with changing technology can improve the overall bottom line and make the brand more competitive. However, hiring new employees when others leave for a new position can cause disruptions to the work structures within the company. Being flexible and managing shifts in priorities is a strategy to make these changes more manageable. Shifting to a new business model is another example of organizational change. Adopting a new way of approaching how the company works is a significant change factor and requires strong leadership to pave a new path.
Business professionals with management training know that to enact significant organizational change at any level of an organization, they need to appropriately integrate the transformations. Since transformational change within a company is not easy, those in leadership roles must honestly acknowledge how complex the changes will be and encourage the discipline required to make the changes. Business leaders that not only encourage others to put in the work for organizational change but actively do their part to push the business forward can lead the organization through a difficult time of transformation.
According to a recent McKinsey & Company study, only 26% of transformational changes in a business succeed. Since many problems within a business are interconnected, it’s essential to start with a small but significant change that gets the employees, shareholders and management teams on board. Every notable change requires leadership to manage long-term transformation for a successful organization for years to come.
About Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Online MBA in Management Program
The core coursework of SIUE’s 100% online MBA in Management program comprises foundational skills and advanced applications, including information systems and technology, corporate finance, government policy, decision-making, managerial economics, marketing, accounting, quantitative analysis and more. With classes such as Operations Management and Process Analysis or Managing Organizational Change and Innovation, students in this degree program can learn to manage organizational change and adapt to and enact effective change.
Learn more about Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s online MBA with a Management Specialization program.