Handle a project where the company is going to close the plant in your company and offer all of the workers an option of taking a buy-out severance package which is quite generous OR relocate to another state, where the business climate is much better (but the cost of living is higher and the style of living is lower). The current location of the company is in an area where people live well, the culture is great, and because it is in a college town, there are many fun things to do on weekends, plays to attend, sporting events, etc. The atmosphere is quite upbeat. The city where the company is moving to has very little in the way of entertainment, the housing costs are higher although not as nice, and property taxes are higher as well. The company is offering moving costs for relocation costs, but not house sale assistance. It is likely most of your employees are going to take the buy-out, but most of them are in their late 30s or early 40s and are not going to be happy about it.
The question: This term, we studied organizational development theory versus the more systematic nStep method of conducting a change process.
1- What would be the pros/cons of using OD theory for this change project?
2- What would be the pros/cons of using nStep?
3- Which nStep would you recommend for this if you use one?
4- Of the two methods (nStep or OD), which would you recommend we use for this particular change program? Why?