CIPS L6M1 Exam Dumps

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L6M1 Pack
Vendor: CIPS
Exam Code: L6M1
Exam Name: Strategic Ethical Leadership
Exam Questions: 40
Last Updated: December 9, 2025
Related Certifications: Level 6 Professional Diploma in Procurement and Supply
Exam Tags: Professional Level Procurement ManagersHR Managers
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Free CIPS L6M1 Exam Actual Questions

Question No. 1

SIMULATION

Pat is the newly appointed CPO (Chief Procurement Officer) of Circle Ltd, a fictional manufacturing company. He is in charge of a team of 12 procurement assistants. He is looking to introduce a new E-Procurement system and is unsure what leadership style would be most appropriate to use: assertive, consulting, collaborating or inspiring. Discuss how Pat could use each of these influencing styles with his team, evaluating their effectiveness for this situation.

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Correct Answer: A

Strategic Ethical Leadership in E-Procurement Implementation: Evaluating Influencing Styles

In modern procurement management, leadership style significantly impacts the success of strategic initiatives such as the introduction of an E-Procurement system. Pat, as the newly appointed Chief Procurement Officer (CPO) of Circle Ltd, must carefully select an influencing style to ensure smooth adoption of the system by his 12 procurement assistants. Different influencing styles---assertive, consulting, collaborating, and inspiring---offer distinct advantages and challenges in this scenario. This essay discusses how each of these leadership styles can be applied in Pat's situation and evaluates their effectiveness.

1. Assertive Leadership Style

Assertive leadership involves directing employees with confidence and clarity, ensuring compliance through authority. If Pat adopts an assertive approach, he would:

Clearly communicate the decision to implement the E-Procurement system.

Set firm expectations for team members regarding system adoption.

Enforce a strict timeline for training and compliance.

Effectiveness in This Situation

Advantages: Provides clarity, speeds up decision-making, and ensures quick implementation.

Challenges: Could lead to resistance from employees who feel excluded from the decision-making process.

Best Used When: There is an urgent deadline or when employees lack knowledge of alternatives.

Given that procurement assistants may have concerns or fears about technological change, a purely assertive approach may create resistance rather than engagement.

2. Consulting Leadership Style

A consulting leadership style involves seeking input from team members before making a final decision. If Pat takes a consultative approach, he would:

Engage procurement assistants in discussions on how the new system will impact their work.

Conduct surveys or meetings to gather feedback.

Allow employees to voice concerns and propose suggestions.

Effectiveness in This Situation

Advantages: Encourages buy-in from employees, reduces resistance, and improves decision-making.

Challenges: Can be time-consuming if employees have diverging opinions or lack expertise in E-Procurement.

Best Used When: Employees have valuable experience or insights, and the leader seeks team engagement.

Since the system is new to the organization, consultation can help address fears and improve morale, but it should be structured efficiently to avoid unnecessary delays.

3. Collaborating Leadership Style

A collaborative leadership style fosters teamwork and shared decision-making, ensuring that all stakeholders work together toward a common goal. If Pat adopts a collaborative approach, he would:

Form a cross-functional project team to oversee the E-Procurement implementation.

Encourage knowledge sharing and problem-solving among team members.

Ensure that procurement assistants have a role in decision-making, such as selecting the software features they find most useful.

Effectiveness in This Situation

Advantages: Enhances teamwork, improves acceptance of change, and utilizes the collective expertise of the team.

Challenges: Can lead to slow decision-making and conflicts if there are disagreements on implementation details.

Best Used When: The project requires innovation and teamwork, and when employees have technical expertise or experience with procurement systems.

Since successful adoption of an E-Procurement system depends on user engagement, collaboration would be highly effective, but it needs structured guidance from leadership.

4. Inspiring Leadership Style

An inspiring leadership style focuses on motivating employees by sharing a vision and fostering enthusiasm. If Pat uses an inspirational approach, he would:

Explain the strategic benefits of E-Procurement for Circle Ltd, such as cost savings, efficiency, and competitive advantage.

Use storytelling and case studies to illustrate successful transformations in similar companies.

Recognize and reward employees who embrace the new system.

Effectiveness in This Situation

Advantages: Boosts morale and motivation, increases commitment, and reduces change resistance.

Challenges: Employees may still need practical guidance and structured training alongside motivation.

Best Used When: Change is significant and requires a mindset shift, especially in environments where innovation is encouraged.

Since the introduction of E-Procurement is a transformative change, an inspiring leadership approach would be effective in motivating employees, but it should be paired with practical implementation strategies.

Conclusion: Choosing the Best Approach

Pat must consider both the technical challenges of E-Procurement implementation and the human factors involved in change management. A blended approach combining multiple leadership styles would be the most effective strategy:

Start with an inspiring approach to generate enthusiasm and ensure employees understand the long-term benefits of E-Procurement.

Use consultation and collaboration to gather feedback and ensure employees feel involved in the change process.

Apply an assertive approach strategically, ensuring that deadlines and key expectations are met.

By combining these leadership styles, Pat can successfully implement the E-Procurement system while ensuring his team is engaged, motivated, and aligned with the company's strategic goals.


Question No. 2

SIMULATION

Banana Ltd is a international manufacturer and retailer of mobile telephones. It has a complex supply chain, which sources materials such as plastic and rare metals. These rare metals are mined in developing countries. Explain how Banana Ltd can develop a culture to achieve ethical practices (25 points)

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Correct Answer: A

Overall explanation

Below you will find how you can plan and draft the essay. Remember this is an example of one way you could approach the question. At Level 6 the questions are much more open so your response may be completely different and that's okay.

Essay Plan

Intro -- what is an ethical culture?

P1 -- create values and principles -- put into writing

P2 -- Lead by example

P3 -- Transparency, whistleblowing

P4 -- Decision making

P5 -- Laws

P6 -- having consequences for failing to follow the culture

Conclusion -- culture isn't static, Banana Ltd needs to constantly update and review

Example Essay

An ethical culture in the workplace refers to the prevailing set of values, norms, principles, and practices within an organization that prioritize and promote ethical behaviour and decision-making among employees and stakeholders. It represents the collective commitment of an organization to conduct its business in a manner that is morally responsible, socially acceptable, and legally compliant. An ethical culture sets the tone for how employees interact with each other, make decisions, and engage with customers, suppliers, and the broader community. Banana Ltd can achieve this in the following ways:

Ethical Values and Principles:An ethical culture is built on a foundation of clear and well-defined ethical values and principles. These values guide employees in their actions and decisions, helping them distinguish between right and wrong. Banana Ltd should engrain these values and principles in writing by creating a vision statement and creating a formal CSR policy detailing expected behaviour from all employees and stakeholders.

Leadership and Accountability:Ethical leaders play a crucial role in fostering an ethical culture. They set an example by consistently demonstrating ethical behaviour and holding themselves accountable for their actions. Leaders also ensure that ethical standards are consistently applied throughout the organization. Therefore the leaders of Banana Ltd should lead by example. This may be in gaining MCIPS qualifications and other certifications that prove their loyalty to ethical issues.

Transparency and Open Communication:Ethical cultures encourage open and transparent communication. Employees are encouraged to speak up about ethical concerns or violations without fear of retaliation. Transparent processes and reporting mechanisms promote accountability. Banana Ltd could implement a Whistleblowing policy for example, so that if any employee knows of areas of concern, they can escalate this to management, without fear of repercussions.

Ethical Decision-Making:Ethical decision-making is central to an ethical culture. Employees are encouraged to consider the ethical implications of their choices, even when faced with challenging decisions that may have financial or competitive implications. For example with Banana Ltd, this may be actively severing ties with suppliers who are known to employ child labour in the mining of rare metals.

Compliance with Laws and Regulations:Ethical cultures emphasize strict adherence to laws and regulations. Banana Ltd should ensure that all activities are carried out within the boundaries of legal requirements, and violations are not tolerated. For example they should ensure that their HR policies are in line with the Equalities Act. As a large organisation they should also publish a statement about removing Modern Slavery from their supply chain, as per the Modern Slavery Act.

Accountability and Consequences:There are clear consequences for unethical behaviour. Banana Ltd should ensure that accountability mechanisms are in place to address ethical violations, and individuals who breach ethical standards may face disciplinary actions. For example if a supply chain manager is caught accepting an 'acceleration payment' or ' kickback' they should be fired.

An ethical culture in the workplace is essential not only for maintaining a positive organizational reputation but also for fostering a healthy, inclusive, and socially responsible work environment. It contributes to employee morale, customer trust, and long-term business sustainability. It is important for Banana Ltd to not only implement this culture, but to maintain it and constantly review it. The area of ethics and sustainability is constantly evolving so Banana Ltd should look to reassess its policies and processes regularly, and continue to strive to achieve more.

Tutor Notes

- You may have guessed that this question was loosely based on Apple. Apple is a good example of ethics and supply chain issues and is worth looking into as it's an excellent example to bring into an essay on the subject. Here are some links:

-Apple's Supply Chain Is on a Collision Course With Climate Change (bloomberg.com)

-Apple sees bigger supply problems after strong start to year | Reuters

-Will Supply-Chain Issues Kill the Low-Cost Apple Vision Pro? (pcmag.com)

- Other areas you could have mentioned include: cultures are not static; they are constantly evolving and improving. So Banana Ltd needs to regularly assess and refine their ethical practices to stay aligned with changing societal norms and expectations (I.e. what is ethically acceptable one day, may not be the next). You could have also talked about Banana Ltd's responsibility to the environment and local communities (particularly concerning the mining of metals). Mining is a really bad industry for Child Labour.


Question No. 3

SIMULATION

Discuss transformational and transactional approaches to leadership. Which is the most appropriate approach in the following case study:

Mo is a procurement manager at a large manufacturing organisation. He oversees a team of 5 procurement assistants. The assistants are currently not working to a high level; they lack skills and confidence in completing tenders and Mo is concerned about their abilities to conduct accurate work. (25 points)

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Correct Answer: A

Introduction

Leadership is a critical factor in shaping employee performance, motivation, and overall organizational success. In procurement, managers must adopt a leadership style that aligns with their team's capabilities, business objectives, and operational challenges. Two widely recognized leadership styles are Transformational Leadership and Transactional Leadership, each with distinct characteristics and effects on team performance.

This essay will discuss both leadership styles, outlining their advantages and disadvantages. It will then evaluate which approach is best suited for Mo, a procurement manager facing skill and confidence issues among his team members.

Understanding Transformational Leadership

Definition

Transformational leadership is a leadership style that focuses on inspiring, motivating, and developing employees to reach their full potential. Transformational leaders act as mentors and role models, encouraging innovation, professional growth, and long-term performance improvements.

Key Characteristics of Transformational Leadership

Inspiration and Motivation -- The leader encourages employees to perform beyond expectations through a compelling vision.

Individualized Support -- Focuses on mentoring and coaching employees to enhance their skills.

Encourages Innovation -- Employees are empowered to think creatively and solve problems.

Develops Future Leaders -- Focuses on long-term talent development rather than short-term task completion.

High Engagement and Emotional Intelligence -- Builds strong relationships with employees and fosters a positive workplace culture.

Advantages of Transformational Leadership

Encourages professional growth -- Employees develop new skills and gain confidence.

Increases motivation and job satisfaction -- Employees feel valued and supported.

Promotes innovation and continuous improvement -- Encourages employees to think creatively.

Builds long-term organizational success -- Creates future leaders through mentoring and skill development.

Disadvantages of Transformational Leadership

Time-consuming -- Requires significant time and effort for mentoring and development.

Not suitable for urgent performance issues -- If immediate performance improvement is needed, transformational leadership may be too slow.

Employees may resist change -- Some employees may be unwilling to embrace coaching and new expectations.

Understanding Transactional Leadership

Definition

Transactional leadership is a leadership style based on a structured, performance-driven approach. It focuses on clear expectations, rewards for success, and consequences for underperformance. This style is best suited for improving task efficiency, enforcing compliance, and ensuring consistency.

Key Characteristics of Transactional Leadership

Clear Expectations and Rules -- Employees have defined roles and responsibilities.

Performance-Based Rewards and Punishments -- Good performance is rewarded, while poor performance is corrected through disciplinary actions.

Focus on Efficiency and Results -- Emphasizes productivity and operational efficiency over employee growth.

Short-Term Performance Goals -- Ensures immediate improvements in employee performance.

Hierarchy and Structure -- Follows a strict chain of command.

Advantages of Transactional Leadership

Ensures short-term efficiency and compliance -- Clearly defines expectations, which leads to immediate improvements in performance.

Effective for structured tasks -- Employees know exactly what is expected, reducing uncertainty.

Increases accountability -- Employees are held responsible for meeting targets.

Useful for crisis management -- Provides a clear directive in high-pressure situations.

Disadvantages of Transactional Leadership

Limited employee development -- Focuses more on task completion rather than skill enhancement.

Can reduce creativity and innovation -- Employees may feel restricted by rigid expectations.

May reduce motivation -- Over-reliance on rules and punishments can create a negative work environment.

Not ideal for building long-term talent -- Employees may not develop leadership skills or confidence.

Which Leadership Style is Most Suitable for Mo?

Case Study Analysis: Mo's Leadership Challenge

Mo is a procurement manager leading a team of 5 procurement assistants.

The assistants are underperforming due to lack of skills and confidence.

Mo is concerned about their ability to complete procurement tenders accurately.

Evaluating the Best Leadership Approach for Mo

Based on the specific challenges Mo is facing, neither leadership style alone is perfect. Instead, a combined approach is most suitable:

Recommended Approach: A Blend of Transformational and Transactional Leadership

Short-Term Approach: Transactional Leadership for Immediate Performance Improvement

Mo should set clear expectations and enforce accountability to ensure the assistants improve their performance in procurement tenders.

Implement a structured training program with performance benchmarks.

Use performance-based incentives (e.g., bonuses, recognition for accurate work).

Provide constructive feedback on mistakes to encourage learning.

Long-Term Approach: Transformational Leadership for Skill Development and Confidence

Mo should act as a mentor and coach, providing continuous learning opportunities.

Encourage assistants to develop confidence in procurement by assigning them progressively challenging tasks.

Inspire the team by highlighting the importance of procurement excellence in achieving organizational goals.

Implement peer learning and mentorship programs to create a supportive learning environment.

Conclusion

Both Transformational Leadership and Transactional Leadership offer valuable benefits, but in the case of Mo's underperforming team, a blended approach is the most effective strategy.

Transactional Leadership should be used in the short term to improve immediate performance, enforce accountability, and ensure accuracy in procurement tenders.

Transformational Leadership should be introduced gradually to develop skills, boost confidence, and foster long-term career growth among the procurement assistants.

By combining both approaches, Mo can quickly improve his team's performance while ensuring they gain the necessary skills and confidence to succeed in procurement. This balanced leadership approach ensures short-term efficiency and long-term growth, making it the most effective strategy for Mo's situation.


Question No. 4

SIMULATION

Discuss supplier due diligence in relation to the case study below. How and why should it be implemented? (25 points)

Delicious Ltd is a cake manufacturing organisation with complex supply chains. They are based in the UK and source raw ingredients such as sugar and flour internationally. They use over 20 different suppliers, many of whom are in the commodities industry and some from low-cost countries.

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Correct Answer: A

Overall explanation

Below you will find how you can plan and draft the essay. Remember this is an example of one way you could approach the question. At Level 6 the questions are much more open so your response may be completely different and that's okay.

Essay Plan

Introduction- what is due diligence -- assessing and evaluating suppliers.

Section 1 -- how to do due diligence: risk assessments, supplier selection, audits, contracts, continuous processes, communication

Section 1 -- why -- quality issues, risk to business continuity, ethical reasons, customer/ stakeholder requirements

Conclusion: it's essential for Delicious Ltd (relate back to case study).

Example Essay

Supplier due diligence is a critical process for organizations like Delicious Ltd, which rely on complex international supply chains to source commodity items. Due diligence involves assessing and evaluating the performance, reliability, and ethical practices of suppliers to ensure they meet the company's standards and requirements.

Here's how supplier due diligence can be implemented:

Risk Assessment:Begin by identifying the potential risks within the supply chain. This may include geopolitical risks, natural disasters, economic instability, and even supplier-specific risks like production delays or quality issues. It should also look at ethical considerations such as the use of forced or child labour in the supply chain and the working conditions of those employed by suppliers.

Supplier Selection:Carefully select suppliers based on criteria such as their track record, reputation, financial stability, quality control processes, and ethical practices. Delicious Ltd should consider multiple sources for critical raw materials such as sugar and flour to diversify risk. This means if one supplier goes bust, or is unable to provide the required quantities, Delicious Ltd can source materials elsewhere. The Kraljic Matrix would be a useful tool here.

Audits and Inspections:Delicious Ltd can conduct regular audits and inspections of suppliers' facilities and practices to ensure they meet the company's standards. These audits can include quality checks, ethical compliance checks, and supply chain continuity assessments. They can use an independent 3rd party to do this.

Contractual Agreements:Delicious Ltd should define clear terms and conditions in supplier contracts, specifying quality requirements, delivery schedules, pricing structures, and dispute resolution mechanisms. These contracts should reflect the results of due diligence assessments.

Continuous Monitoring:Establish a system for ongoing monitoring of suppliers' performance. This includes regular communication, feedback mechanisms, and performance reviews to ensure suppliers maintain the desired standards. Delicious Ltd could use the Demming Plan Do Check Act cycle here.

Contingency Planning:Develop contingency plans for potential supply chain disruptions. This could involve identifying alternative suppliers or establishing safety stock levels for critical raw materials. For example, by holding a surplus stock of flour in it's own warehouse, Delicious Ltd mitigates the risk of late deliveries interrupting production.

Transparency and Reporting:Delicious Ltd should be transparent about supplier due diligence efforts with stakeholders, including customers, investors, and regulatory bodies. They should regularly report on compliance with ethical and sustainability standards and can publish findings on their website.

For Delicious Ltd, implementing supplier due diligence is essential for several reasons:

Quality Assurance:Ensuring the quality of raw ingredients is crucial for a cake manufacturing organization like Delicious Ltd. By conducting due diligence, the company can verify that suppliers meet specific quality standards, which is essential for producing consistent and high-quality products. If an ingredient such as flour was contaminated, this may result in Delicious Ltd's customers falling ill. This is a risk that needs to be eliminated.

Supply Chain Reliability:International supply chains can be susceptible to disruptions, such as natural disasters, political instability, or economic fluctuations. Supplier due diligence helps identify potential risks within the supply chain and allows the company to develop contingency plans to minimize disruptions.

Ethical Sourcing:Customers and stakeholders increasingly demand transparency and ethical sourcing practices. Due diligence enables Delicious Ltd to assess whether suppliers adhere to ethical standards, such as fair labour practices and environmental sustainability, which can protect the company's reputation and market position. Delicious Ltd risk losing customers, and thus profit, if they fail to conduct due diligence.

Cost Control:By evaluating suppliers' financial stability and pricing structures, the company can negotiate better deals, optimize costs, and avoid unexpected price hikes or financial risks associated with supplier instability.

In conclusion, implementing supplier due diligence is essential for Delicious Ltd due to its complex international supply chains. It helps ensure quality, reliability, and ethical practices among suppliers, while also mitigating risks associated with the supply chain. By effectively implementing due diligence processes, the company can enhance its reputation, protect against disruptions, and maintain cost control.

Tutor Notes

- Remember that due diligence isn't just about ethics. That's a big part of it (checking supply chains for modern day slavery etc). Due diligence is about getting the 5 Rights of Procurement (remember this from Level 4?), it's about ensuring supply chain security and continuity, and about risk aversion too.

- To improve on the essay above you could talk more in detail about where you can get information on suppliers, such as D&B and Companies House for financial information, customer references and checking registrations such as ISO14001. Some of these are specific to the UK, so Delicious Ltd may need to look at international equivalents. You don't have to know what these are for the exam though so don't worry!

- How deep you conduct supplier due diligence depends on how important the supplier is to you. You could mention this in your conclusion and bring it back to Delicious Ltd -- the flour supplier is probably very important, but the supplier of stationary for the workers in the office is probably less so. So Delicious need to do thorough due diligence on the flour supplier and less on the stationary guys. Kraljic is the tool for this.

- Because this is a case study question, you don't have to bring in any real life examples. But if the question was more open e.g. discuss how a procurement manager can do Due Diligence, you could talk about a real life example, so have one in your back pocket for the exam

- For a really high score you could mention this:Home - KnowTheChain


Question No. 5

SIMULATION

Discuss internal and external sources of change (10 points). What is a Forcefield Analysis and how can this help a leader plan for change? (15 points)

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Correct Answer: A

Overall explanation

Below you will find how you can plan and draft the essay. Remember this is an example of one way you could approach the question. At Level 6 the questions are much more open so your response may be completely different and that's okay.

Essay Plan

Divide into two separate answers

1) Internal changes; personnel, systems, structure. External changes; STEEPLED and Porter -- legislation, economy, technology, competitors.

2) Intro: what is a forcefield analysis? Explain how to do one. Then How can it help? Define objectives, impact on communication strategy

Example Essay

Change is a constant in the business world, and organizations must adapt to various internal and external forces to remain competitive and relevant. Understanding the sources of change is crucial for managing transformations effectively. In this essay, we will explore the distinction between internal and external sources of change and discuss how they impact personnel, processes, and company structure.

Sources of Internal Change within a Business:

People Changes: Changes in personnel, such as hiring, firing, promotions, and retirements, can have a profound impact on an organization. New hires may require training and onboarding, potentially affecting productivity during the transition. Terminations or layoffs may lead to temporary disruptions and workload adjustments for remaining employees. Moreover personnel changes can influence the organization's culture. New employees may bring different values and perspectives, while the loss of experienced employees can result in a shift in the workplace culture. Promotions and changes in leadership positions can influence decision-making, team dynamics, and the overall direction of the organization.

Systems Changes: Implementing or modifying systems, including software, technology, or operational procedures, can significantly affect how an organization operates. Well-planned systems changes can lead to increased operational efficiency, reduced errors, and improved decision-making, but employees may need time to adapt to new systems, potentially causing a temporary decrease in productivity. Moreover, systems changes can impact data storage, retrieval, and analysis, influencing how information is utilized within the organization.

Company Structure Changes: Altering the organization's structure, including hierarchies, departments, or reporting lines, can reshape how work is organized and executed. Employees who experience shifts in job roles, responsibilities, or reporting relationships, can affect job satisfaction and performance. It may also require adjustments in communication processes, potentially impacting the flow of information within the organization. A well-designed company structure can enhance efficiency and adaptability, while a poorly structured one may lead to inefficiencies and bureaucracy.

Sources of External Change Impacting a Business:

Legislation Changes: Changes in laws and regulations can have immediate and long-term consequences for businesses. Adapting to new regulations may require financial investments in compliance measures, training, or legal counsel. Businesses may need to modify processes and practices to ensure adherence to updated legal requirements. Companies that can proactively adapt to legislative changes may gain a competitive advantage by being compliant and avoiding penalties. An example of this is the upcoming changes to Public Sector Procurement Regulations which will take place in 2024, following the UK's departure from the EU.

Economic Changes: Economic shifts, such as recessions, inflation, or economic growth, can affect an organization's financial health and market position. Economic downturns can lead to decreased consumer spending and reduced revenue, requiring cost-cutting measures like layoffs or budget reductions. Conversely economic growth can present new market opportunities, prompting expansion, product diversification, or investment in research and development. Economic fluctuations can also disrupt supply chains, affecting inventory management, pricing, and delivery times.

Technological Changes: Rapid advancements in technology can drive changes in how businesses operate and compete. Embracing technological advancements can enhance operational efficiency, reduce costs, and improve customer experiences. Employees may require training to adapt to new technologies, and organizations may need to invest in digital infrastructure. Technology-driven innovations can disrupt traditional industries and create new competitive threats or opportunities. For example the music industry has seen huge changes in the past 10 years due to the increasing popularity of streaming platforms such as Apple Music and Spotify.

Competitor Actions: Actions taken by competitors, such as new product launches, marketing campaigns, or market entries, can influence an organization's market share and strategy. This may require adjustments in pricing, product offerings, or marketing strategies. An organisation should look at Porter's 5 Forces and STEEPLE analysis to fully understand potential external sources of change.

In the dynamic business environment, both internal and external sources of change play significant roles in shaping organizations. Recognizing these sources of change and effectively managing them are essential for organizations to succeed.

Forcefield Analysis

Lewin's Force Field Analysis is a valuable tool that can help a leader plan for change by providing a structured framework for understanding the forces at play in an organization when considering a change initiative. Developed by psychologist Kurt Lewin in 1951, this model helps leaders assess the driving forces that promote change and the restraining forces that resist it.

Identifying Driving and Restraining Forces:

Driving Forces: These are factors that push for change and support the desired change initiative. Identifying these forces helps leaders understand what is propelling the organization toward change. Examples of driving forces include market opportunities, customer demands, and performance improvement goals.

Restraining Forces: These are factors that oppose or hinder change. Recognizing these forces is crucial as they represent obstacles that need to be addressed or overcome. Restraining forces can include employee resistance, existing processes, or budget constraints.

Assessing the Balance:

After identifying driving and restraining forces, leaders can assess the balance between them. This analysis provides a clear picture of the overall readiness for change within the organization. If driving forces outweigh restraining forces, it suggests a favourable environment for change, while an imbalance in the other direction may require more effort to gain buy-in and overcome resistance.

Prioritizing Action Steps:

Once the forces are identified and their balance is assessed, leaders can prioritize action steps accordingly. For driving forces, leaders can focus on leveraging them further and ensuring that they continue to support the change. For restraining forces, strategies can be developed to mitigate or overcome them. This may involve addressing concerns, providing training, or reallocating resources.

How this can help a leader plan for change:

Force Field Analysis provides a foundation for developing a comprehensive change management plan. Leaders can use the insights gained to structure the plan, including defining specific objectives, timelines, and key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure progress.

Understanding the forces at play allows leaders to tailor their communication and engagement strategies. They can target communication efforts toward addressing the concerns and motivations of employees, stakeholders, and other relevant parties. By addressing restraining forces through effective communication, leaders can build support for the change.

The analysis doesn't end with the initiation of change; it continues throughout the change process. Leaders can continuously monitor the balance of forces and adjust their strategies as needed. If new restraining forces emerge or driving forces weaken, the change plan can be adapted accordingly to maintain momentum.

In summary, Lewin's Force Field Analysis provides leaders with a structured approach to understanding the dynamics of change within an organization. By identifying driving and restraining forces, leaders can better plan, execute, and manage change initiatives, ultimately increasing the likelihood of successful implementation and achieving desired outcomes.

Tutor Notes

- I have split my answers here and clearly signposted this to the examiner. A top tip is to consider the examiner's first look at your essay. By doing this, they can clearly see within the first 10 seconds that I've understood the question and I've answered all parts. It's a way to set yourself up for success. So, use all the headings and spacings you can. I don't think you can use bold in the exam, but you could use capital letters instead.

- A way to improve on the above would be to give more examples. For the Forcefield analysis you could talk about a potential change at company X being the introduction of a new product line, and say what the forces for and against would be. This would really hammer-home to the examiner you know your stuff.

- Sources of change -- p. 224 (note the study guide says internal sources are people, structure and processes, I used the word system in my essay above rather than processes but it's the same thing). External sources of change are anything from STEEPLED and Porter. Remember the question is only worth 10 points, so 3 or 4 internal and 3 or 4 internal is more than enough. Don't do a full STEEPLED. You don't have time.

- Forcefield analysis is p. 232


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