Discuss the difference between top-down and bottom-up changes. ...

[Mr. Wonderful]

Discuss the difference between top-down and bottom-up changes.
 
  What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

Discuss the difference between evolutionary and revolutionary change.
 
  What will be an ideal response?

[Fayaz00962]

Answer to Question 1

Top-down change is implemented by managers at a high level in the organization. The result of radical organizational restructuring and reengineering is top-down change. Managers high up in the organization decide to make a change, realizing full well that it will reverberate at all organizational levels. The managers choose to manage and solve problems as they arise at the divisional, functional, or individual levels.

Bottom-up change is implemented by employees at low levels in the organization and gradually rises until it is felt throughout the organization. By reducing the uncertainty that employees experience, bottom-up change facilitates unfreezing and increases the likelihood that employees will retain the new behaviors they learn during the change process. In general, bottom-up change is easier to implement than top-down change because it provokes less resistance. Organizations that have the time to engage in bottom-up change are generally well-run organizations that pay attention to change, are used to change, and change often. Poorly run organizations, those that rarely change or postpone change until it is too late, are forced to engage in top-down change.

Answer to Question 2

Evolutionary change is gradual, incremental, and narrowly focused. Evolutionary change involves not a drastic or sudden altering of the basic nature of an organization's strategy and structure but a constant attempt to improve, adapt, and adjust strategy and structure incrementally to accommodate to changes taking place in the environment. Sociotechnical systems theory, total quality management, and the creation of empowered, flexible work groups are three instruments of evolutionary change that organizations use in their attempt to make incremental improvements in the way work gets done.

Revolutionary change is rapid, dramatic, and broadly focused. Revolutionary change involves a bold attempt to quickly find new ways to be effective. It is likely to result in a radical shift in ways of doing things, new goals, and a new structure. It has repercussions at all levels in the organizationcorpora te, divisional, functional, group, and individual. Reengineering, restructuring, and innovation are three important instruments of revolutionary change.