An Itch for Change: Challenges of

Change Management for MamaBhasha

Publications
 TIME CONTEXT
• MamaBhasha Publications was known for
being one of the first publishing companies
in Kerla, India. In 2007, the CEO received
complaints from a group of members from
a nearby resident association regarding
with the company’s printing unit that
causes the pollution of both air and water.

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 POINT OF VIEW

• The protagonist of the case is Kiran

Varma, the general manager of the
printing unit.

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STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Symptoms Cause
• New printing • 29 employees took
location (the 2 aleave in an
acres of land that average of 2 days in
the company owns the past 3 months.
in the outskirts of • 17 employees took
the city was a medical leave
formerly a because of itch.
swampland)
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STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Major problem Minor problem

• 29 employees took • New printing
aleave in an location.
average of 2 days
in the past 3
months.
• 17 employees took
a leave because of
medical reason.
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STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Extent: Serious. Because MamaBhasha
Publications had the lowest level of
absenteeism and attrition.

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 STATEMENT OF OBJECTIVES
• Want Objective: To prevent pollution of air
and water in Kottayam.
• Must Objective: To continue to maintain
the lowest level of absenteeism.

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 AREAS OF CONSIDERATION
Strengths Weaknesses
• Employees treated as • Printing unit causes
family members. pollution.
• Employees reciprocate
through genuine
commitment.
• Provides maximum
benefits to its employees.
• No conflict of
disagreement of any kind
between the firm and
employees.
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 AREAS OF CONSIDERATION
Opportunities Threats
• No more complaints • Competitors
about pollution in opportunity to defeat
Kottayam. Mamabhasha’s
Publishing Ltd.

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 ALTERNATIVE COURSE OF ACTION
A. To change the perception of the employees that the new
printing location is not a swampland anymore by explaining
that the place has already been developed.

Advantage
• Change of perception
which will lessen the
absenteeism of the
employees.
Disadvantage
• Some employees will
not believe because
the explanation about
the former swampland
being developed is not
enough for them.

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 ALTERNATIVE COURSE OF ACTION
B. To execute consequence to employees who
takes leave for a dishonest reason especially for
medical/sick leave.

Advantage Disadvantage
• To again lower the • Employees may
absenteeism of the resign because they
employees. will find the
consequence unfair.

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 RECOMMENDATION

To execute consequence to employees who takes

leave for a dishonest reason especially for
medical/sick leave.
Short-term Long-term
• To implement the • To educate the
course of action employees in their
immediately. work ethics
• To explain • To value and
consequences to the consistently comply to
employees. the company policy.

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