Coping with change in Businesses

Businesses today have to operate in rapidly changing markets and conditions. They can no longer rely on a constant stream of customers, the same production process or the same product over a long period of time. They must constantly be aware of, and be prepared to respond to, changes in a number of areas.

The introduction of new technology can affect a business in many ways. There have, for example, been rapid changes in communications technology, production techniques and electronic components in recent years.

Why manage change?
The management of change in business has grown in importance in recent years. Under pressure from competitors, higher costs and economic conditions many firms developed company-wide change programmes.
Some have argued that, historically, the problems of business in managing change and increasing productivity have resulted from the ineffectiveness of management. It has been suggested that managers in the past have not:

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