Change Management Assignment: Change Plan Proposal for HelloFresh Company

Question

Task: Context
Bringing about real change in an organisation requires careful planning and implementation. People need to understand what is going to happen in the change process so that they can “buy into” the changes. Without a plan, nothing concrete will happen, and the change program will fail. As a new recruit specialising in Change Management, you have been asked to develop a Change Plan Proposal for an organisation to enhance its sustainability.

Instructions
In this change management assignment, you are required to understand “what needs changing” in an organisation by accurately diagnosing change problems. This requires the application of frameworks to understand the complexity and inter-relatedness of organisational components operating at different levels of the organisation. Coupled with this is the ability for Change Champions to feedback and concisely strategies and plan for the implementation of the proposed change intervention for the chosen organisation, using the process approach and present it to all stakeholders.

Process for completing the assignment
1. Think about an organisation that you are associated with/worked for in part-time or full-time capacity or your friends, relatives have worked for. Alternatively, you can imagine a hypothetical scenario of an organisation that you would like to establish in the middle of this COVID -19 Pandemic. Reflecting on the organisation, or hypothetical scenario, you are required to develop a change plan proposal which addresses a need for change to enhance organisational sustainability.

2. Your proposed change plan should be based on a Change Processes model and consider the various issues and potential barriers that you (as a change manager) would face when planning and implementing your proposed change/s. Importantly, your change intervention strategies should acknowledge the factors which are critical for successful implementation of organisational change for sustainability.

3. You need to incorporate at least 5 current resources post 2016 including three academic journals. Other sources can be used once you satisfied the 5 current resources. In total, 10 references are required.

4. In developing the Change Plan proposal for the chosen organisation, you need to consider the following structure from the Change Agent’s perspective:

Problem/Gap
• What is the context for the change?
• Specifically, what problem needs to be resolved.
• What are the implications of not resolving the problem?
• Change Model
• What Process model did you select? What are its key elements?
• Why did you choose a Process change model?
• What are the implications of using this model for your change process?

Change Interventions
• Identify change elements such as structures, processes, resources, time frames, and performance measures
• What type of change is planned and what are the key elements in your change plan (e.g. specific work groups, technology, structure, downsizing, culture, and learning and development)?
• What support structures are needed (e.g. change champions and trained users who can support staff in the workplace)?
• How will you evaluate the success of your interventions?

Stakeholder Analysis
• Identify the key stakeholders and their needs, e.g. management, unions, staff, and other work units.
• What gains and losses apply to each of the key stakeholders/groups as part of the change process and how might they respond?
• Analyse their expected resistance to the change (who, when, why, how, etc.)

• Discuss the global implications for your organisation. Ethical, social and sustainability issues/impacts
• Identify any ethical dilemmas.
• How does the change contribute to the profitability and longevity of the organisation?
• Are there environmental issues that need to be addressed as a result of the change implementation?
• How does the change process incorporate the dignity of work and the common good?

Action Plan
• Develop an action (implementation) plan for implementing the change and covering elements such as communication, training, systems, resources, performance measures and time frames.
• Major milestones and time frames (schedule, critical path (Gantt Chart) of each activity
• Consider also what activities will be needed to reinforce the changes, e.g. promoting any ‘wins’ and benefits provided by the change.

Change Sustainability
• Stickability of the change
• Spreadibility of the change

Answer

Problem/Gap
The organization's operating structure evaluation effectively provides that the immediate context of the change is to use sustainable packing techniques to reduce the carbon footprint effectively. The primary business operations of the organization are to undertake the sales of ready-to-eat meals. Within the process, the organization uses large quantities of plastic material that have a significant impact on environmental sustainability and emits a large amount of carbon within the recycling process (Katte, 2019). The primary problem that needs to be effectively resolved is to reduce the use of single-use plastic within the organization's operating structure to ensure environmental sustainability. Under the situation where the business issue is not resolved, it is identified that the total carbon emission from the ready-to-eat meal industry will increase by 25% by the end of 2050.

Change model
Within the process of effectively incorporating the chain to reduce the negative impact towards environmental sustainability, the management of HelloFresh has actively made use of the McKinsey 7s model, the key elements effectively discussed below. Strategy: the management of the organization is effectively developed a clear strategy of managing change within the organization by ensuring its effective implementation for reducing the use of single-use plastic and replacing the same with paper bags (GuardiolaRamírez, 2019).

Structure: the management has also changed the organization's operating system to facilitate the shift from plastic to paper. The management has also implemented strategies within the operational structure to undertake sustainable business operations effectively.

System: the management has effectively updated the overall system operations to ensure appropriate plastic replacement with paper.

Staff: the management had also undertaken the training of its staff members to ensure appropriate implementation of The Change management process. Style: the management has relatively made use of the democratic operation style to ensure proper flow of France and information from all directions for collective enhancement in a knowledge base.

Skills: the magnet of the organization has also made use of skill-building activities to identify better and more efficient methods of undertaking business operations and replacing plastic with paper without hampering normal operations. The primary reason behind choosing this process change model is that it provides a structured operating procedure that the organization can effectively follow to implement The Change management process in a monitored and well-balanced manner (Hill and Maddock, 2018). Secondly, this process change management model provides due consideration to a wide variety of areas that are important for the management to consider for ensuring appropriate implementation of The Change management process. The primary implication of implementing the McKinsey 7s model is that it makes sure that the overall process of chain management is well structured and regulated.

Change intervention
Identification of change element
Structure: firstly, to effectively incorporate the change, the management of HelloFresh will have to completely restructure its packaging to shift from plastic to paper as currently, the packaging line makes 100% use of plastic towards undertaking business operations.

Process: The head office management will also have to update the entire process of undertaking business operations and ensure that it is highly regulated to meet the sustainability requirements.

Resources: the management of the organization will have to source appropriate infrastructure in terms of machinery and equipment used to paper pack ready-to-eat meals without compromising the quality and durability (Stolberg, 2019).

Time frame: to effectively update the overall packaging system, the organization's management will require at least two months.

Performance measure: to effectively measure the performance efficiency of changing the packaging method, the management must effectively extract consumer feedback and internally evaluate the impact of organizational operations towards environmental sustainability.

Evaluation of change plan
To effectively ensure environmental sustainability with the help of efficiently undertaking business operations in a regulated and structured manner, the management of HelloFresh plans to implement an operational change. The functional change will be primarily focusing on replacing the plastic packaging used by the organization with paper packaging that could be helpful in terms of reducing overall carbon emission and help the organization undertake sustainable business operations.

To effectively undertake the change, the critical element that the management of the organization will focus on is the development of appropriate technology to shift from plastic to paper, along with updating the overall operating structure of the organization and recruiting efficient, professional staff to effectively undertake business operations (Zeinstra and van der Haar, 2020). The management will effectively identify appropriate machines and packaging tools that enhance the feasibility of shifting from plastic to paper and update the organization's structure, so that average business efficiency is not hampered.

Support structure
To ensure that the organization's change management process is effectively undertaken in the management of the organization must effectively make use of professional learning and advice for identifying the overall viability and feasibility of the project. The management effectively hires professional experts to train existing employees within the packing department for making efficient and profitable use of the new infrastructure economically and efficiently.

Evaluating success
To effectively evaluate the success of the chain intervention, the organization's management must engage with the customer and evaluate their level of satisfaction from the use of paper packaging (Jones, 2020). Additionally, the management could also conduct an internal sustainability audit to effectively identify the overall contribution of shifting from plastic to paper overprotection and sustainability of the environment in general.

Stakeholder analysis
The key stakeholders of The Change management process in HelloFresh and effectively listed below.

• Management
• Human resource
• Investors
• Customers

The need of each stakeholder identified above is also discussed below in detail.
Management: the management primarily needs to ensure that the overall level of sustainability within the organization's operations is enhanced.
Human resource: The human resource experts ensure that the organization's change management process does not significantly impact their operating structure. And the training and development required for effectively undertaking the change are reasonable. Investors: the investors primarily expect a fair return on investment from the expenditure towards the Change management process along with appropriate enhancement in the revenue-generating capacity of the organization.

Customers: The customer's primary need is to ensure that the organization is committed to the protection of the environment and maintaining sustainable growth and development.

Impact of the change on stakeholders
Management: the management of the organization will gain appropriate scope to undertake favorable and sustainable business operations (Doppler and Steffen, 2020). The management will also gain proper opportunities to make other stakeholders aware regarding their commitment towards organizational growth and development.

Human resource: some human resources within the organization may be dissatisfied with implementing the change as it would require them to undergo strict screening and training procedures. It may also reduce productivity as the employees will have low motivation and morale to undertake operations.

Investors: the investors may react positively and negatively as there might be some investors who would favor the change Management process and vice versa. Customers: the customers of the organization will respond favorably as the Change management process will lead to enhancement in organizational sustainability and protection of the environment in general.

Expected resistance to change
Human resource: The organization's human resources may resist the change at its implementation due to fear of undergoing strict training and learning new operating procedures. The employees will resist increasing turnover and undertaking inefficient business operations.

Investors: the investors of the organization will also resist the change when management develops the idea about the same due to fear of loss. The investor will resist the change by boycotting General meetings along with selling organizational shares in the market.

Ethical social and sustainability issues
Ethical dilemma
The primary ethical dilemma that the organization's management will face within the Change management process is providing considerable importance to the needs and objectives of the organization rather than focusing on the interest of employees and investors. As already discussed above, incorporation of changes may lead to significant dissatisfaction amongst employees and the investor base of the organization, leading to the subordination of the organization's overall objective over the expectation of employees and investors. It might lead to a fundamental ethical dilemma for the management to consider (Li et al., 2021). That for the management effectively and take appropriate Strategies and actions to make invested in employees aware that incorporation of change is not only for the complete interest of the organization but it will also enhance their value and worth within the industry.

Contribution of change
The primary contribution of the change towards the organization is effectively listed below.
• It will enhance the organization's commitment to environmental sustainability and protection.
• Help to enhance the organization's market share amongst the consumer base based on its commitment towards sustainable growth and development.
• Enhancement in revenue-generating capacity.
• Enhancement in competitive strength

Environmental issues
The overall Change management process of the organization is towards reducing the overall negative impact of business operations on the environment. Therefore there is no environmental issue Ooh involved within the Change management process.

Contribution of change towards dignity and common good
Implementation of The Change management process that is primarily focused on eliminating plastic use from the operations of HelloFresh will lead to appropriate enhancement in the overall level of the dignity of human resources. The organization's human resources will be highly motivated. They will develop a sense that they are working for a good cause and showcasing their commitment to environmental sustainability and protection (Gibson and Partridge, 2019). Implementation of The Change management process will lead to a considerable decrease in carbon emission, which will benefit environmental sustainability in the long run. Therefore, the change can be effectively identified as an act for the collective growth and development of society.

Action plan

Gantt chart

Change sustainability
Stick ability to the change: the change proposed by the management of HelloFresh is highly adaptable as it leads to enhancement in overall organizational productivity and profitability. The chain is the positively stuck ability of the change is significantly high as it provides more benefit to the organization than the cost incurred. Therefore, the organization's management will effectively adhere to the change in search of enhancement in profitability market share and communicate its commitment towards sustainable growth and development within the target market. Spread ability of the change: the change can also be identified as highly spreadable. The expected benefit from its implementation is significantly higher than the cost incurred towards undertaking the same (Carter, 2018). Other business organizations can also make use of the change to effectively hand their market share and portray their commitment towards sustainable growth and development to the target consumer market.

Evaluation of change process
To effectively meet the overall efficiency of the change management process and management of the organization can effectively extract valuable feedback from the customer about the durability and satisfaction from the paper-packed meals. The organization's management can also conduct an internal sustainability audit to effectively identify the impact of implementing the change towards environmental sustainability and protection.

Conclusion
In the modern era of cutthroat competition, business organizations need to identify innovative business strategies capable of enhancing organizational revenue and market share in the long run. Corporate social responsibility and the organization's commitment towards sustainability of the environment can be identified as one of the primary tools being used by modern business organizations to enhance market share and profitability. Therefore, with the help of effectively undertaking the change management process of replacing plastic with paper within the packaging process of HelloFresh, the organization's management can effectively enhance its overall sustainability and showcase its commitment towards environmental growth and development.

References
Carter, H., 2018. Do home-delivered ‘food boxes’ have the potential to inspire healthier eating habits, raise nutritional awareness and increase cooking confidence.

Doppler, S. and Steffen, A., 2020.The future of food experiences.In Case Studies on Food Experiences in Marketing, Retail, and Events (pp. 197-210).Woodhead Publishing. Gibson, A.A. and Partridge, S.R., 2019. Nutritional qualities of commercial meal kit subscription services in Australia. Nutrients, 11(11), p.2679.

GuardiolaRamírez, F., 2019. Towards Paper Insulation Packaging: Evaluation of Thermal and Logistics Performance. A Case Study at HelloFresh.

Hill, B. and Maddock, S., 2018.1Swansea University, Swansea, United Kingdom, 2Royal Agricultural University, Cirencester, United Kingdom. Case Studies in Food Retailing and Distribution, p.241.

Jones, G., 15 Food literacy. Change management assignmentThe Intersection of Food and Public Health, p.231.

Katte, L.M.V., 2019. HelloFresh: a recipe for sustainable market leadership? (Doctoral dissertation). Li, R., Xu, Y., Chen, J. and Qi, D., 2021. Meal Kit Preferences during COVID-19 Pandemic: Exploring User-Generated Content with Natural Language Processing Techniques.

Stolberg, T., 2019.Applicability of bio-based polymer packaging in the meal kit context-A case study with HelloFresh.

Zeinstra, G.G. and van der Haar, S., 2020. Consumers’ understanding and user experiences regarding a time-temperature indicator (Keep-It®) in the HelloFresh meal box: An experimental pilot study (No. 2101). Wageningen Food &Biobased Research.