Quick questions on Driving and restraining forces for change (VCE Business Management Unit 4)

Driving forces push a business towards change. The study design groups them, and it helps to sort them into internal and external sources.

Restraining forces resist or slow change. Many sit inside the business.

The business anticipates change and acts ahead of the pressure - scanning trends, reading competitor moves and changing before it is forced to. Lower long-run risk and more control, but it requires foresight and the willingness to invest before the need is obvious.

The business responds to change only after the pressure has hit - a competitor has already taken share, a law has already changed, profit has already fallen. Often more disruptive and costly because the business is on the back foot.

Use Telstra's T25 transformation; classify the forces and assess the approach.

Identify two internal and two external driving forces for change. [2 marks]

Explain how employees can be both a driving and a restraining force for change. [2 marks]

Distinguish between a proactive and a reactive approach to change, and assess which is generally lower risk. [4 marks]