The effectiveness and practices of criminal justice organizations are continually being challenged by society and the legal system. It is perceived that criminal justice organizations need to follow an optimistic approach toward organizational change and development.
For this assignment you have just been hired as a management consultant for a private prison corporation. The company owns two prisons; both have high rates of employee turnover and very bad reputations. One is a brand new facility, Kurz Manor. Your company built it from scratch and installed a modern management system. The problem is that most of the staff is new to corrections and the discipline in the facility is very loose. Recent escapes from Kurz Manor have resulted in a public outcry that the place should be closed.
The other prison, Longview, has been running as a traditional state prison using policies and procedures that have not been updated for many years. The staff uses a punishment model of control instituted by the warden Big Bob. Longview has very low morale and numerous prison incidents of violence and sexual assaults. Both of the prisons house medium to maximum-security prisoners.
For this assignment the state has given your company the management contract for the private prison corporation. They need changes to be made that will alter the situation in both facilities within the corporation. If significant improvements are not witnessed in two years, the state will probably decide to house their prisoners elsewhere.
To make certain that the decisions you’re taking are going to help the organization, you need to be sure that you have accurate information about the history of the organization and what strategies are going to help it. To do this, what kind of research would you plan? What kind of data would you need to put your plans into action? How would conducting the right kind of research help you implement your plans of action?
Your goal as the management consultant for a private prison corporation is to develop plans to bring about large-scale changes in the corporation and its two facilities.
To bring about change and development in the corporation and its two facilities, what are the first steps you will take and why? Use your research to cite resources to support your recommendations.
What kind of resistance to change do you foresee in terms of personnel sources and organizational sources between the two facilities and why; cite sources to support your argument.
To ensure the development of your organization’s effectiveness, how would you increase the level of trust and support among organizational members from both facilities? Cite sources to support your proposal.
How would you improve the level of job satisfaction in both facilities? Cite sources to support your recommendations for improvement.
Full Answer Section
Data
The data I would need to put my plans into action would include the following:
- Organizational assessment data: This would include data on the corporation's financial performance, employee turnover rates, inmate recidivism rates, and other relevant metrics.
- Employee survey data: This would include data on employee satisfaction, morale, and suggestions for improvement.
- Focus group data: This would include transcripts of the focus groups, which would be analyzed to identify common themes and suggestions.
- Literature review data: This would include summaries of the key findings and recommendations from the research literature on organizational change and development, as well as best practices in prison management.
How Research Would Help Implement Plans of Action
The research I would conduct would help me to develop a deep understanding of the corporation and its two facilities, as well as the challenges and opportunities they face. This information would be essential in developing effective plans for change and development.
For example, the organizational assessment data would help me to identify the corporation's strengths and weaknesses, as well as the areas where it needs to improve. The employee survey and focus group data would help me to understand the experiences and perspectives of employees, as well as their suggestions for improvement. The literature review data would help me to learn from the best practices of other organizations.
By synthesizing all of this information, I would be able to develop a comprehensive plan for change and development that is tailored to the specific needs of the corporation and its two facilities.
First Steps
The first steps I would take to bring about change and development in the corporation and its two facilities would be the following:
- Meet with the corporation's leadership team to discuss their goals and priorities for change.
- Conduct the research described above to gather information about the corporation and its two facilities.
- Analyze the data and develop a comprehensive plan for change and development.
- Communicate the plan to employees and get their feedback.
- Begin implementing the plan, monitoring progress closely, and making adjustments as needed.
Resistance to Change
I foresee the following types of resistance to change in terms of personnel sources and organizational sources between the two facilities:
Personnel sources:
- Employees who are comfortable with the status quo and do not want to see things change.
- Employees who are distrustful of management or who have had negative experiences with change in the past.
- Employees who are concerned about the impact of change on their jobs or security.
Organizational sources:
- The corporation's culture, which may be resistant to change.
- The corporation's structure, which may make it difficult to implement change.
- The corporation's resources, which may be limited.
Sources:
- Bridges, W. (1991). Managing transitions: Making the most of change. Addison-Wesley Publishing Company.
- Kotter, J. P. (1996). Leading change. Harvard Business School Press.
- Lewin, K. (1947). Field theory in social science. Harper & Row.
- Schein, E. H. (1999). The corporate culture survival guide. Jossey-Bass.
How to Increase Trust and Support
To increase the level of trust and support among organizational members from both facilities, I would do the following:
- Be transparent and honest about the challenges facing the corporation and the need for change.
- Communicate the plan for change and development clearly and concisely.
- Get feedback from employees and make adjustments to the plan as needed.
- Involve employees in the implementation of the plan.
- Celebrate successes along the way.
How to Improve Job Satisfaction
To improve the level of job satisfaction in both facilities, I would do the following:
- Create a positive and supportive work environment.
- Provide employees with opportunities for professional development.
- Recognize and reward employees for their hard work and dedication.
- Offer competitive salaries and benefits.