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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
Article
Sustaining the Gains of Change: Lessons for Organizational Leadership
Author(s)
Xolani Ngonini, Ola Busari
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DOI:10.17265/2328-2185/2017.06.012
Affiliation(s)
Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority, Centurion, South Africa
ABSTRACT
With the aim of drawing
valuable lessons for the management and planning of similar business
transformation initiatives, this paper critically evaluates a change project at
an organization in South Africa, from three inter-woven dimensions: creating
the climate for change, engaging and enabling the organization, and sustaining
change. Firstly, a key achievement demonstrates that attempts to create a
conducive climate for change should recognize that the unit of change in any
organization is, ultimately, the individual. Levers for such initiatives should
navigate the macro-organizational change narrative and translate change
generalities into specific individual actions and behaviors. Secondly, learning
from an implementation gap, similar efforts would gain better traction in
engagement and empowerment by leveraging on an influential cross-functional
team made up of enthusiastic supporters of the required change, to foster
ownership and to embrace change across the organization. Key characteristics
that should be represented on the team include leadership skills, expertise,
credibility, effective communication, and a sense of urgency. Thirdly, in terms
of sustaining change, twin lessons surge to the fore. On a positive note, by
progressing its values-set into an annual staff award, there is a pointer to
the potential of innovatively encouraging and rewarding employees to live the
value qualities. And, on the flip side, a need is underscore of the critical
role of seamless executive leadership, providing ongoing co-creating windows
for instilling positive attitudes and creating synergies among related
strategic initiatives.
KEYWORDS
organizational leadership, South Africa, sustaining change, TCTA
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