Organizational and Change Theory Paper

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For this Application Assignment, analyze a change that has happened at your place of employment and how effectively it was handled. Write a 2- to 3-page paper addressing how well the change process worked. As a nurse leader, what would you have done differently to make the change more effective? Use the following guidelines and evaluation criteria and the headings below for each section. Use a minimum of three references from the professional nursing literature in the assigned course readings and other references in the Walden Library. If they are relevant, you may use one or two professional websites in addition to the literature references.

 

  • Overview—20 points

    Begin this paper with a brief paragraph that provides an overview of the assignment and its purpose. There is no separate heading for this paragraph; the heading for this paragraph is the same as the title of the paper. This paragraph will be about 2–3 sentences. The last sentence in this paragraph is a sentence that begins “The purpose of this paper is to . . .”

  • Organizational and Change Management—40 points

    Analyze a change that has happened at your place of employment and how effectively it was handled. This section will be 3–4 paragraphs.

 

 

 

  • Effective Change—30 points

    Outline your suggestions for how to make the change more effective. Utilize a change theory to support your analysis and recommendations. Support each selected best practice with references from the professional literature. This section will be 2–3 paragraphs.

  • Summary—10 point

    End the paper with a 1-paragraph summary of the main points of the paper.

 

Format/Style

 

Proofread the paper as described in the tips for success in this course and correct any typos, grammar, spelling, punctuation, syntax, or APA format errors before submitting your paper in the Dropbox. Up to 40 points can be deducted from the grade for this assignment for these types of errors, or for not using at least the minimum number of required references.

 

Total points for assignment = 100 points

 

 

 Learning Resources

Prior Knowledge

Technology has certainly changed how people communicate both personally and professionally. How much time do you spend on electronic communications such as e-mail, IM, chatting, and social networking sites like Twitter or Facebook? Many individuals no longer send hand-written birthday cards, holiday greetings, or thank-you notes through the postal service. A great deal of communication is now done electronically. Reflect on your use of electronic communication. What are the benefits of this type of communication? What are the drawbacks? How do you address the drawbacks in your professional communications?

Required Resources

This page contains the Learning Resources for this week. Be sure to scroll down the page to see all of the assigned resources for this week. To view this week’s media resources, please use the streaming media player below.

Media

  • Video: Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2010). Leadership competencies in nursing and healthcare: Communication, teamwork, and managing conflict. Baltimore: Author.

    • Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 21 minutes.

      In the fast-paced world of nursing and health care, accurate communication is vital. This week, the experts discuss the importance of communication within an organization, for leadership and for the quality of patient care.

Readings

  • Course Text: Effective Leadership and Management in Nursing (8th ed.)
    • Chapter 8, “Thinking Critically, Making Decisions, Solving Problems”

      In Chapter 8, the authors look at the various stages of critical thinking and the creative process and how they should be used in problem solving. They also examine how to analyze a problem to determine which strategies should be employed and how to problem-solve in groups.

    • Chapter 9, “Communicating Effectively”

      In Chapter 9, the authors look at the various communication techniques leaders use to get their points across to a wide range of audiences. The chapter helps explain some of the complexities leaders face when trying to communicate a similar message to colleagues at, above, and below their professional level, as well as to people of different cultural backgrounds.

    • Chapter 11, “Building and Managing Teams”

      This chapter examines nursing leadership when working with teams. It reviews several common challenges teams face and how leaders can encourage cooperation in order for the team to be successful. This chapter provides leadership strategies for forming an effective team, managing meetings, planning tasks, and completing these tasks.

    • Chapter 12, “Handling Conflict”

      Chapter 12 begins with an observation that not all conflict is negative—rather, if handled properly, conflict can lead to an interchange of ideas that can produce positive and unexpected results. The chapter also provides a self-examination that asks you to look at personal obstacles that hinder positive conflict. Conflict management rules and strategies are also addressed in this chapter.

  • Losa Iglesias, M., & Becerro De Bengoa Vallejo, R. (2012). Conflict resolution styles in the nursing profession. Contemporary Nurse: A Journal For The Australian Nursing Profession, 43(1), 73-80
     
  • Report: Institute of Medicine Shaping the Future for Health (2000). Crossing the quality chasm: A new health system for the 21st century. Retrieved from http://www.iom.edu/~/media/Files/Report%20Files/2001/Crossing-the-Quality-Chasm/Quality%20Chasm%202001%20%20report%20brief.ashx

    Review this report brief of the IOM’s publication Crossing the Quality Chasm, and focus on strategies the organization suggests for improving health care delivery, including interdisciplinary collaboration