Business As Usual (BAU)

Business as Usual (BAU)

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The underlying paradigm, upon which almost all change models rest, is that change is episodic, a disruption to an otherwise static business. We cautiously predict the next decade will hasten the demise (a demise that has been predicted for some time) of the notion of a business as a mechanistic, static entity, with rigid structures, and punctuated by episodic major change. This old paradigm can be seen in two additional canonical (and I think highly inaccurate) change metaphors, Business as Usual (BAU) and the oldest change model, unfreeze, change, refreeze10. The first of those metaphors suggests that there are things that are changing and things that are stable. The second of those implies that organizations are stable, and then you have to “unfreeze” them. There is no “frozen” in today’s businesses. You are to identify, and critically examine, the key issues raised by Gibbons (2015) in the above statement extracted from the prescribed text. You must undertake research of relevant academic literature (peer reviewed journals); use this research to provide a critical analysis, which must be supported with evidence from the literature including theories and models to develop your argument. It would enhance your discussion to use specific organisational examples to further evidence your claims. Any specific organisational information must be referenced (this may come directly from the organisation, in addition to any material that is available in scholarly works). NOTE: a minimum of 13 references is required with DOI which must include prescribed textbook, relevant academic peer reviewed journal articles.