Description
COMPULSORY ESSAY ASSESSMENT 2: SEMESTER 2 [2026]
BASED ON LESSONS 1 TO 4
Important guidance for this assignment:
You will be assessed on both your understanding of theory and your ability to apply it
practically to the case study. When answering the questions, make sure that you explain
the relevant concepts using the prescribed materials (the study guide lessons and/or the
textbook) and then clearly show how these concepts apply to the case.
All work submitted must be your own original writing. You may consult academic sources
to inform your understanding, but you may not copy and paste from any source, including
textbooks, articles, websites, or AI tools. All sources that informed your work must be properly
cited, and ideas must be expressed in your own words.
Using AI or any other source in a way that replaces your own thinking, or submitting copied
text, will be regarded as plagiarism and may result in a mark of zero for this assessment.
The following are specific requirements relating to the layout and technical presentation of
assignments:
• Cover page: The first page of your document should display information such as the
module code, assignment number, and your name and student number.
• Table of contents: Always include a table of contents on the second page, listing the
headings and subheadings of your assignment. The titles and subheadings should
describe the content of the sections, be numbered, and provide the page numbers.
• Introduction: There should be only one introduction to the assignment, not one per
question.
• Discussion: Use the decimal classification system, for example, 1, 1.2, 1.2.1, 1.2.1.2.
• Conclusion: There should be a conclusion at the end of your assignment which
summarises the most important aspects. There should be only one conclusion and not
one per question.
• In-text references: All facts and theories should be substantiated with references.
• Reference List: Provide full details in a list of references at the end of your assignment.
Use the APA referencing method.
1
Read the following case study carefully and answer the questions that follow.
Case Study: Planned Change at Ikhaya Health Supplies
Ikhaya Health Supplies is a medium-sized, privately owned medical distribution company
based in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Founded in 2015, the company initially grew rapidly
due to strong relationships with local healthcare providers and a reputation for reliability.
However, by 2025, the organisation faced significant challenges, including rising customer
complaints about delayed deliveries and inconsistent service quality. Internally, employees
experienced confusion regarding their roles, leading to task duplication and coordination
issues among departments. Over time, these difficulties contributed to declining morale,
increased absenteeism and a higher turnover rate, particularly within the logistics and sales
teams.
In response to various concerns, the managing director, Ms Pillay, hired an external OD
consultant, Mr Khumalo, to help the organisation. During early discussions, senior managers
expressed that they were facing significant external challenges, including increased
competition and rising operational costs, while internal processes were overlooked. A
consulting agreement was established, detailing the objectives, timelines, confidentiality, and
the responsibilities of both the consultant and the organisational stakeholders.
Mr Khumalo conducted an assessment of the organisation using employee questionnaires,
individual and group discussions, and observations of daily operations. Although participation
was voluntary, some employees were unsure how their feedback would be used, especially
since the discussion took place during work hours. To address this, the consultant compared
information from various sources before drawing conclusions. The findings revealed several
key issues: unclear role expectations, lack of performance feedback, minimal employee
involvement in decision-making, and poor communication between management and staff.
These insights were presented to senior managers and later discussed in sessions that
included employee representatives, facilitating a consideration of diverse perspectives.
As discussions progressed, differing priorities became apparent. Management emphasised
the need to improve efficiency and manage costs, while employees raised concerns about
workload distribution, fairness, and consistency in decision-making. With the consultant’s
facilitation, a number of changes were introduced over time, including clarifying roles and
reporting lines, structuring feedback discussions, creating regular opportunities for crossdepartmental
information
sharing,
and
offering
development
opportunities
for
supervisors
and
frontline
staff. These initiatives were first introduced in one operational area before being
extended more broadly.
Several months later, the organisation assessed the impact of these changes through staff
feedback, operational indicators, and customer responses. Improvements were noted in
service reliability, increased employee engagement, and higher staff retention. Some
practices were integrated into existing HR processes, while others became part of routine
operational meetings.
2
QUESTION 1
Discuss the four activities involved in the general model of planned change and indicate
whether you feel these steps were adhered to in the above case study. Substantiate your
answer with relevant examples from the case study.
(16)
QUESTION 2
External consultants may have several advantages over internal consultants. Describe any
four advantages of external OD consultants, specifically during the various stages of the
planned change process.
(4)
QUESTION 3
Discuss the three critical areas in the contracting phase and indicate whether the essential
aspects were addressed. Would you have done it differently? Please motivate clearly. (10)
QUESTION 4
Describe the five ethical dilemmas that OD practitioners may encounter. Based on the case
study, identify at least two ethical dilemmas that emerged and explain how these ethical
challenges could be effectively avoided in future planned change initiatives. Support your
answer with relevant examples from the case study.
(10)
TECHNICAL ASPECTS
A further ten (10) marks are awarded for the technical presentation of your assignment, which
includes the table of contents, introduction, headings and numbering, conclusion, in-text
referencing and the reference list.
(10)
[TOTAL: 50]
3
SELF-EVALUATION CHECKLIST FOR COMPULSORY ESSAY ASSESSMENT 2
Use this checklist to evaluate your assignment critically before submission.
Checklist Item
Tick ✓
Structure and technical requirements (10 marks)
10
marks
Cover page (first page) with correct details (module code, assignment number, name and
surname, student number)
1 mark
Table of contents with numbering and page numbers (starting on page 2)
1 mark
One integrated introduction for the entire assignment (not per question, starting on page
3)
1 mark
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