Surviving change

Abstract

Purpose

This paper seeks to investigate change, why and how people react as they do to change, how to manage some of fheir reactions to change – such as stress and individual drivers – and how their career anchors come into play.

Design/methodology/approach

The first author examines the way people react to change and the techniques that can be adopted for better personal management. The second author provides a case study of how the organization worked with Oakridge Training and Consulting when it was facing major internal restructuring and outsourcing and achieved a successful outcome from this major change scenario.

Findings

Unilever outlines the outcomes of a workshop program delivered across 19 countries to 1,600 people. The workshops received consistent positive feedback from across all participating countries and research showed that there was a positive upturn in the perception of how Unilever Europe IT delivers change within the business.

Originality/value

The paper moves away from the process and elements of change to focus on the individual and offers practical tools that HR professionals can apply in a change environment that acknowledge individual needs and differences.

Citation

Leahy, L. and Chamberlain, N. (2008), "Surviving change", Strategic HR Review, Vol. 7 No. 6, pp. 23-29. https://doi.org/10.1108/14754390810906409