Assignment Week 2: Management & Social Change and Personal Development Plan

Managing change for sustainability means the process of managing organizations for

sustainability (Corporate Social Responsibility) outcomes (Bartlett, 2013). In other words, it is

about managing organizational changes which are themselves aimed at improving the

sustainability of the organization, rather than being concerned with making “change

management in general” more sustainable. In this sense, then, it is simply the application of

change management theory and techniques to sustainability initiatives. However, this simple

definition fails to capture a number of potential difficulties concerning the scale of such

changes. For example, would an initiative aimed at slightly reducing what are already deeply

and fundamentally unsustainable practices be considered as “managing change for

sustainability”? Or would a different, much larger set of changes be required?

Linking corporate social responsibility (CSR) implementation with referential stage model of

four business operations namely; project management, quality management, strategic

management and organizational learning, companies try to cope with societal demands by

integrating them into these business operations: (1) integrating societal demands into project

management by initiating a project in an area that is perceived as ‘good’ (for example,

scholarships and awards that Walden University give out); (2) avoid ‘bad things’ by applying

quality management for CSR implementation (for example, Walden University maintains its

reputation by recruiting the right candidates and staff, and also makes sure that academic rules

and regulations are followed proactively); (3) strategic CSR perceives societal demands as

opportunities to create shared value (for example, Walden University creates avenues for

students to study online at their conveniences through the values they have created over the

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years) and (4) transformational CSR helps Walden University to overcome constraints like low

materiality and developing the capabilities (Martinuzzi & Krumay, 2013). While the first two

stages aim at ‘doing good’ or ‘avoiding bad’, strategic and transformational CSR are key for

‘being successful’. Companies can assess the stage they have reached, strive for higher

materiality, boost their competitiveness, and evolve in terms of CSR maturity. Hence, the

referential framework adds a new and application-oriented perspective to the discussion of the

business case for CSR and demonstrates how stages lead to competitive advantage and

organizational transformation (Martinuzzi & Krumay, 2013).

Corporate Social Responsibility plays important role in change management (Aiza, Sehrish,

Zaish & Zafar, 2013). This is the reason why Ghana Reinsurance Company Limited always

makes provision for CSR. Recently, they (Ghana Reinsurance Company Limited) presented

GHȻ250,000 ($56,818.18) to ten health and educational institutions as part of its corporate social

responsibility. The gesture was in line with their desire to help improve on the capacities of some

essential services in Ghana so as to enable them deliver on their mandate.

Change management refers to managing the people and structures of the organization in order to

fulfill the needs of the customers. For successful change management, corporations should have

effective CSR policies so that employees should have positive image of the company. Effective

CSR policies are very crucial as employees have different values and beliefs when change

management occurs so CSR policies can help the employees to understand the organization

culture (Aiza, Sehrish, Zaish & Zafar, 2013).

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For these few weeks, Walden University has proven to be the best online universities to attend. I

am happy to study in this university because of the academic credentials. I am really impressed

by the way the staff of Walden University has proven to be dedicated to work and with true

efforts to win more students. The university continues to be growing technologically and its

global ranking in education is also very great with high reputation that makes a great aspiration

to the students and professionals for the better career perspectives. Thus such kind of positivity

has boosted my confidence further and I am highly satisfied with the decision I have taken.

Moreover, the university’s diverse cultural norms and values, the famous gentle hospitality of its

people and all other friendly relations in promoting acceptance and peace to both sides in great

clarity make me feel Walden University as my university.

In order to participate in discussions and submit my assignments on time, I have drawn a study

timetable that will be strictly adhered to. I will devote all my resources both mentally and

physically to this study to achieve high success. For now, this course will take prominence over

any other of my undertakings. I have designed a room in my house exclusively for this program.

I would make sure that all my assignments are done and submitted on time and I will not only

keep regular contact but also have good rapport with my supervisors. I will maximally utilize all

avenues provided by the University so that I successfully complete the course in a record time.

Currently, I hold Masters of Science in Statistics from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science

and Technology with a distinction and a Post Graduate Diploma in Entrepreneurship from Cape

Coast University. I also had a first class division in both Bachelor of Science Degree in Statistics

and HND Statistics from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and Accra

Technical University respectively.

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Besides education, I am the managing director of SAMVEN’s Research and Consultancy Unit

Limited, a statistician, consultant, monitoring & evaluation expert, researcher and a data analyst.

I am also the Project & Financial Analyst and Research & Marketing Manager respectively for

Design Resources Estates and Tradezone International. I also work as the Head of Research for

SPARKX SM Ghana Ltd. I was also a teaching assistant at Accra Polytechnic in the year 2005. I

was the research consultant for EDC Consults LTD (sponsored by World Bank in 2008),

National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), Regional Institute for Population Studies

(RIPS) and National Population Council which was co-sponsored by Agence Francaire De

Development (AFD) and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) (2013). I also gave research

consultancy to PHD, MPH, MSC, MA, MBA and all other categories of students on their

Dissertation (2005 to date). I was also the research consultant for Cadbury International (Ghana)

Operational Districts’ projects (2011). Other companies that I have worked for as a research

consultant were DMT Collateral, Viasat Broadcasting G. Ltd, Anator Financial Services Limited,

Proko (GH) Limited, Neskael (GH) Limited and Charisma Medical Services.

My main focus based on my job experience and career objectives is to assist institutions in

achieving their information or data management set targets. I always picture myself as a research

consultant, statistician, analytic manager, information manager, information systems analyst,

lead consultant to institutions and governments. I have acquired qualities and skills such as

quantitative and qualitative analysis, information technology, economics, finance and

management that apply to statistical problems from my previous studies and wish to expand on

them. Therefore, I would like to gain deeper theoretical and practical knowledge in starting and

managing most innovative and research projects. During my studies, with great hidden abilities

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in myself I will try to come up with the best of everything; to accompany the professors and

university colleagues in carrying out research and exploring for immense exciting industrial

mysteries in the field of statistical analysis and other related areas. After completion of my

PHD’s studies I hope to be able to take part in maximizing my country’s research in information

building and management fields to benefit its economy and enhance the living standards of my

compatriots. I believe that this PHD Program will provide me with the chance to get to know

how to do proper research in institutions and helping the government in setting strategic policies

that will see my country through in achieving her goals. I hope that I can gain more experience in

dealing with information management situations, peoples, policies, demands and public

institutions which will be of a great help in my future career.

References

Aiza, A., Sehrish, J., Zaish, M. & Zafar, F. (2013). Effectiveness of corporate social

responsibility in organizational change management, Asian Journal of Managerial

Science ISSN: 2249 - 6300 Vol. 2 No. 2, pp. 50-55

Bartlett D. (2013). Managing change for sustainability. In: Idowu S.O., Capaldi N., Zu L., Gupta

A.D. (eds) Encyclopedia of Corporate Social Responsibility. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

Idowu, S. O., Capaldi, N., Zu, L. & Gupta A. D. (2013). Managing change for sustainability,

Encyclopedia of Corporate Social Responsibility, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

Martinuzzi, A. & Krumay, B. (2013). The good, the bad, and the successful – how corporate

social responsibility leads to competitive advantage and organizational transformation,

Journal of Change Management, Volume 13