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Organizational Crisis

 

Definition:

            An organizational crisis a decisive moment in a company’s history when events might force a company to reassess its position and when decisions may have to be made about the company’s future.  Upheavals of major significance may be caused by internal events but usually these are either directly or indirectly brought about by external events.

External Categories

 

Ř     Technology

New technology developments, which might give competitors an edge and force a company to completely, rethink its strategy leading to a radical restructuring.

 

Ř     Economic

An Economic downturn, which could affect a company’s product markets or the functioning of the labour market.

 

Ř     Social legal

Change in social norms, which could affect the expectations and behaviour of people at work.  Could occur slowly over time and only become obvious when event force a major strike for changes in work conditions or core personnel begin to leave the company

.

Ř     Political

Profound changes in the law affecting people at work and their well-being such as hours of work, or minimum wage or regular inspection of dangerous machinery.

Internal Uncertainty

Ř     Life Cycle

Ř     Organizational decline

Environmental Uncertainty

Stable

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Environmental complexity

 

 
                                        Simple                                                                         Complex

 

Adapting Culture – 3 Conditions

1.     Dissatisfaction with status quo

2.     Visionary CEO

3.     Kurt Lewin 3 stage process

                                                              i.      Unfreeze

                                                            ii.      Change

                                                          iii.      Refreeze

 

 

Response to External Environment by

 

1.     Change Organizational Structure          centralized structure to decentralized

 

2.     Change technology                             introduce computerization

 

3.     Focus on Products                             bring out new products

 

Cause Change in Internal factors

 

1.     Hire New people – bring in new skills

2.     Change the reward and performance appraisal system – new behaviour or new skills, abilities or attitudes.

3.     Job design-: Change the job to encourage new behaviour

4.     Focus on People – Introduce empowerment principal and self directed teams in a TQM environment.

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