The Reasons for People’s Resistance to the MRP Implementation

Case Analysis
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Case Analysis
The current competition in the modern business world renders it impossible for any company to resist change. Change occurs in various forms, ranging from the introduction of new technology, an increase in funding, or establishment of new goals. Changes are meant to create new opportunities for businesses to achieve their goals. Unfortunately, change is always accompanied by challenges, one of them being resistance to change by the employees. This resistance is evident in the case of Cleaver’s Sausage House, where there was resistance against implementation of MRP system.
Case Overview
In the case of Cleaver’s Sausage House, Allison Elam, the vice president of operations for the company, which makes fine sausages in Minnesota attempted to introduce a new software system called the materials requirements planning (MRP). Elam had experience with the system and was sure that it would work out. After a ten months of working on the system, in most cases, alone, she decided to present the idea tot eh executive team. Initially, she thought that the executive would agree with her and that she would be allowed to proceed with the implementation. While working on the project, she experiences a lot of obstacles but hoped that she had the support of the executive team. Unfortunately, her efforts were rendered null when the management dismissed the project, with the vice president of sales terming it as “just big corporate BS). Just like in the case of Elam, the same case happens in many other companies, where staff tend to resist their mode of operation. Susan Frisch, the director of logistics for the company even warned about the project and her final comment was, “We are successful. Why upset the apple cart?” Susan’s attitude reveals the underlying mentality among most businesses. Most of the organizations hold that as long as they are successful, there is no need to change their strategy.
The Reasons for People’s Resistance to the MRP Implementation
People resisted the implementation of MRP system for various reasons. One of them was self-interest. Under normal circumstances, most employees often slide into their comfort zone and as long as their interests are being met, they will not welcome any attempts to change the status quo (Daft, 2015). In the case of the CSH Company, while Elam was concerned about accurate sales forecast, the director of logistics was worried about delayed orders. Both of them had discarded the organizational benefits of MRP system and hence the resistance.
Employees also resist change for lack of competence. In most cases, change requires employees to acquire new skills. Most o...