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ACCA Strategic Professional · Strategic Business Leader · Managing strategic change

Hartwell Group is merging two divisions. The change leader chooses to set the vision herself, but she gives middle managers a real say in how the merger is implemented, while retaining the right to make final decisions. Staff are partly sceptical and there is moderate time pressure. Under the Balogun and Hope Hailey style continuum, which statement is most accurate?

Participation is the right style. Middle managers influence how the merger is implemented, but the leader keeps control of the vision and the final decision. Collaboration would need wider involvement in the content, direction would give no real say, and education would rely on persuasion alone.

  1. AShe is using participation, which involves influence over the process but with management keeping control of the final decisionCorrect
  2. BShe is using collaboration, because managers have a say in the vision
  3. CShe is using direction, because she retains final decision rights
  4. DShe is using education and delegation, because managers carry out the implementation

Explanation

Participation involves some involvement of others in the process, while the change leader still retains overall control of the final outcome. Collaboration would require wide involvement in the content, including the vision itself. Direction would involve no real say, and education would rely on persuasion, so only participation fits.

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