You have joined the Organizational Development Division at Marks & Spencer (M&S) as a Change and Transformation Analyst. M&S is implementing a major strategic overhaul as part of its 'MS2' transformation agenda, responding to intense
Vocational Scenario or Context
Vocational Scenario
You have joined the Organizational Development Division at Marks & Spencer (M&S) as a Change and Transformation Analyst. M&S is implementing a major strategic overhaul as part of its 'MS2' transformation agenda, responding to intense competitive pressures, the growth of digital retail, evolving customer expectations, and the urgent need for sustainable business practices.
M&S is undertaking changes in organizational structure, leadership approach, employee culture, digital infrastructure, and customer engagement strategies. These include adopting AI-powered supply chain systems, streamlining store management, digitalizing customer services, and reducing carbon emissions across its operations.
You have been commissioned to produce a professional change analysis portfolio for the senior leadership team. This portfolio will critically assess change management drivers, analyze behavioral implications, investigate leadership decision-making, and propose evidence-based models and leadership approaches to help navigate M&S's change journey successfully.
Task 1
Task 1: Understanding Organizational Change at M&S
Task Title: Organizational Change Drivers and Impacts
Word Count Guidance: 1,500-1800 words
Task Description:
You are required to write a professional analytical report that:
Reviews a range of contemporary examples of change in large UK organizations (with a focus on M&S). Compares and analyses the different types (e.g. strategic, structural, cultural) and drivers (e.g. PESTLE, digital transformation, internal capabilities) of organizational change. Examines the impact of change on individual, team, and organizational behavior. Evaluates measures to minimize negative behavioral impact, such as stakeholder communication, readiness planning, and succession strategies. Guidance:
Use real and referenced examples from M&S and other UK organisations (e.g. John Lewis, Sainsbury's). Explain what planned, emergent, structural, strategic, or technological change looks like in M&S. Apply models such as PESTLE, Burke-Litwin, Change Impact Analysis, or Readiness for Change models. Evaluate psychological responses to change (e.g. fear, disengagement, acceptance) and team dynamics. Recommend approaches (e.g. communication strategy, business continuity planning) that minimise resistance and maintain morale. Use Harvard referencing to support claims for the in-text and full reference list. Submission Format:
Business report format Use headings/subheadings. Include introduction and conclusion. Apply appropriate academic and professional tone Task 2
Task 2: Leading Through Change and Managing Resistance
Task Title: Leadership Decision-Making and Resistance to Change
Word Count Guidance: 1500-1800 words.
Task Description:
Prepare a briefing paper for M&S leadership that:
Investigates the forces driving and resisting change within M&S. Analyses how such forces influence leadership decision-making in practice. Discusses effective leadership techniques for managing resistance to change. Applies the force field analysis framework to diagnose barriers and enablers of change. Guidance:
Apply Kurt Lewin's Force Field Analysis to the M&S context. Identify what forces push change forward (e.g. digital efficiency, stakeholder pressure) and which resist it (e.g. fear, cultural rigidity). Analyze individual, team, and organizational resistance using models like Schein's Culture Model, TKI Conflict Model, or Self-Efficacy Theory. Discuss how leadership approaches (e.g. Vroom-Yetton-Jago, ethical decision-making, adaptive leadership) influence how decisions are made. Include examples of when poor leadership deepened resistance and when effective leadership overcame barriers. Critically analyze tensions between urgency, ethics, and inclusion in leadership decision-making. Submission Format:
Briefing paper format (clearly structured and executive-focused) Use bullet points, numbered sections, visuals if required (e.g. force field diagram) Use professional tone and avoid informal language. Note: Do check some examples of Briefing papers from the following link, this task is strictly briefing paper format.
https://essl.leeds.ac.uk/law-research-expertise/doc/briefing-papers
Task 3
Task 3: Recommending Leadership Approaches for Future Change
Task Title: Change Leadership Models and Strategic Recommendations
Word Count Guidance: 1500-1800 words.
Task Description:
Produce a set of strategic recommendations report for the leadership at M&S. These should: Recommend appropriate leadership approaches for supporting M&S's ongoing and future change initiatives. Evaluate the benefits and limitations of a range of change models including Kotter's Eight Steps, Lewin's Change Model, McKinsey 7-S, Balogun and Hope Hailey, and ADKAR. Justify your recommendations based on the change context at M&S and support them with academic and industry evidence. Guidance:
Match the change context at M&S (e.g. imposed vs initiated, large-scale vs small-scale) to appropriate leadership approaches (e.g. transformational, situational, psychodynamic). Justify why certain models suit particular aspects of change: for instance, use Kotter for stepwise transformation and ADKAR for building employee support. Critically evaluate advantages and limitations of each model in terms of scope, speed, stakeholder engagement, and sustainability. Ground recommendations in empirical evidence, case studies, and change management theory. Submission Format:
Strategic recommendation report (professional format) Use subheadings and structured layout. Include tables or decision matrices if useful. Professional tone; avoid informal or narrative writing. Important Notes
All three tasks must be compiled into one professionally formatted .pdf file and submitted over the Totara. Each task should begin on a new page with a clearly labelled heading (e.g. "Task 1:"). Ensure consistent formatting, professional tone, and logical structure throughout. Include a title page, table of contents, reference list, and AI prompts (if used). Appendices should be clearly labelled (e.g. Appendix A: Force Field Diagram) and referred to in the relevant task. Sources to support you with this Assignment
Recommended resources.
Textbooks
Cameron, E., and Green, M. (2024) Making Sense of Change Management. 4th Ed. London: Kogan Page. Dawson, P. and Andriopoulos, C. (2021) Managing Change, Creativity, and Innovation. 4th Ed. London: Sage Publishing. Lewis, L.K. (2019) Organizational Change: Creating Change Through Strategic Communication. 2nd Ed. Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell. Northouse, P.G. (2021) Leadership: Theory and Practice. 9th Ed. London: Sage Publishing. Pendleton, D., Furnham, A. and Cowell, J. (2021) Leadership: No More Heroes. 3rd Ed. London: Palgrave Macmillan. Websites
www.businesstrainingworks.com www.managementtoday.com www.mindtools.com www.strategy-business.com Links
This unit links to the following related units:
Unit 4: Leadership and Management
Unit 20: Organizational Behavior Management
Unit 46: Developing Individuals, Teams, and Organizations
Unit 47: Human Resources – Value and Contribution to Organizational Success
