Change makes all of us uncomfortable, doesn’t it? Imagine planning and executing a radical change like implementing a new software, or a merger, or a restructuring of workforce on an organizational level involving thousands of stakeholders. It can be a daunting task. Well, not as daunting when one is aware of the principles and framework that govern change. Visiting lecturer Geoffrey Matthews, an expert in Change Management & Organizational Development and founder of his own Consulting firm helped us get equipped with the tools necessary to deal with change at both an organizational and an individual level. He enabled us to build a strong foundation of the fundamentals of dealing with change. We discussed the concepts of the different emotional stages that we go through when facing change, the steps of executing a change, how to build a ‘change-friendly’ organization culture and the crucial role of managers and leaders in planning, sponsoring and driving change. We discussed some classic case studies and examples on how change was dealt with by organizations and got insights on what to do and what to focus on while leading the change. Geoffrey Matthews brings to the table an immense knowledge and experience in the field of Change Management. The insights he shared from his work experiences were fascinating and offered a perfect combination of theory and practical examples. Culture, communication and inclusion are the cornerstones of change, we learnt. The case study to critically analyse the change situation and recommend the ways to change, helped us get a grasp on the concepts and deepened our understanding. The task of reflecting through the course not only strengthened our retention of concepts but taught us to embrace change and be prepared for it.

Text and photos: Aditya Yardi, MBA Class of 2025