- This is an assignment which must be completed by students individually. The essay should be 1,500 words (+/- 10%).
The objective of this essay is to develop the student's ability to appreciate how theories can be used/combined by organisational change agents to more effectively achieve their organisational real-life change goals. To do well in this essay, students are required to read beyond the core texts and use case histories, and formulate defensible, cogent arguments.
The Essay:
In 2004 when writing in the Academy of Management Executive journal (Volume 18[1]), Denise Rousseau defined psychological contracts as "beliefs, based upon promises expressed or implied, regarding an exchange agreement between an individual and, in organizations, the employing firm and its agents" [pp 120-127]. Since then, psychological contract theory has become very important to the field of management and, in particular, to those involved in organisational change.
Why do you think it is important for organisational change agents to understand psychological contract theory?
To successfully answer this essay question you should explain psychological contract theory. You should also explain how it can be used to make change easier in a real-life organisational change scenario.
Importantly, you should identify at least one organisational change theory from the textbook where you believe psychological contract theory has the potential to enhance that theory. You should then explain how psychological contract theory could enhance that theory.
To ground your arguments, you should find an example of a real-life firm that has experienced major organisational change in the last five years and use it to illustrate your arguments, that is, explain how it demonstrates that psychological contract theory could be successfully combined with another major organisational change theory.
You should conclude your essay by explaining the significance and/or implications of your findings/arguments.
