Theory and Model Newsmoor -

Lewin's Change Model Real-Life Example For Unfreeze Change Refreeze

Lewin's Change Model Real-Life Example is Netflix. The Example of Three Stages of Kurt Lewin's Change Management.

Lewin's Change Model

Lewin's change model refers to the three stages of management change theory. The three stages of Lewin's change management model are unfreezing, changing, and refreezing. Therefore, the alternative name of the Lewin change management model is the unfreeze change refreeze theory. Lewin's change model is one of the primary and familiar change management models that describe the organizational transition.

Who and When Established Lewin's Change Management Model?

Kurt Lewin established the three stages of the organizational change model in 1947.

In 1947, Kurt Lewin introduced the three stages of the change management model known as Kurt Lewin's change model. After that, researchers and scientists established many models to describe organizational changes, such as Kotter's Change Management Model, Kübler-Ross Five Stage Change Management, ADKAR Change Management Model, McKinsey 7-S Change Management Model, and also Lewin's Change Model or Theory. However, Lewin's change management model has become the most popular for its simplicity and fewer phases, for example, unfreeze, change, and refreeze.

Researchers have developed multiple theories based on Lewin's change management model. So, it is the foundation of all modern change management theories. For example, John Kotter's 8-stage management change model was developed based on Lewin's change management model. The management system is complex compared to before when the model was introduced. Therefore, Lewin's change management model is controversial in modern organizations. It has excellent theoretical significance in the research arena rather than practical importance.

Lewin's Change Model Real-Life Example

Many reputed companies apply Lewin's change management model to survive in the current situation. For example, Netflix has used a change model to adjust to the digital era. Netflix's organizational change process handled the force of organizational change to achieve a competitive advantage. Netflix transformed its business strategy in 1998, 1998, and 2007. The management encountered multiple barriers to getting outcomes. Now, they are one of the most successful companies globally. Netflix is a real-life example of Lewin's change management model. It is known as Lewin's Change Model Business Example.

Lewin's Change Model Stages

Three Stages of Change Management are:

Unfreeze stage
Change stage
Refreeze stage

Lewin's Change Model Real Life Examples- Three Stages of Change Management — Lewin's Change Management Model - Three Stages of Change Management

Unfreeze Change Refreeze

1. Unfreezing Stage of Change

Unfreezing is the initial stage of Lewin's change management model or Lewin's change management model. In this stage, employees prepare mentally to accept the change in the organization. In the management system, the unfreeze stage refers to breaking down the existing circumstances to accept organizational changes. Usually, employees feel comfortable in the organization's current condition; therefore, some do not accept the management change quickly due to uncertainty. The unfreezing stage consists of educating people about opportunities for organizational change. The organization should practice the change management communication strategy to prepare employees for the change.

The key point of this stage is to compel employees to accept management change through effective change communication. Maintaining effective interaction within the management is essential to persuade employees to accept change. Employees will receive the change if they understand the new things cannot prevent the company or organization from surviving. Additionally, they must realize that change is essential to sustain the organization and achieve competitive advantages.

A high level of positive motivation among employees helps to understand the reasons for organizational change and development. Next, the organization needs to persuade the stakeholders that the change will bring benefits to everyone. Some people will receive it quickly, but some of them will deny it initially. Finally, everyone will come up with the motivation to make the change.

Communication During the Unfreeze Stage

The primary communication objective is to prepare stakeholders, employees, and the organization to accept the change – “Readying” the organization. However, resistance will increase simultaneously with how huge the change is and how much it affects the organization. Effective communication can overcome resistance. To ‘ready’ the organization to accept the change, it is essential to declare the objective of the change. Additionally, you must ensure that everyone in the organization knows what will happen and why. Effective communication is significant in pointing out the difference between actual and desired outcomes. This first message or declaration should come from the top-level management of the organization to avoid communication conflict.

2. Change (Move) Stage

Change is the second stage of Lewin's change management model. It is the middle stage of the three phases of change management. Actual changes occur when everyone in the organization decides to accept the change with positive motivation. Employees receive and adjust to the new working atmosphere. Changes can be major or minor based on the organization's needs. The organization must provide sufficient training and support for the employees to embrace the changes. It is the stage of implementing the change process; therefore, many issues must be addressed consciously. Some employees may spread misleading information due to having insufficient knowledge about organizational change. So, the organization needs to practice an effective communication process to avoid unwanted issues. However, employees will be focused on practicing the new work.

Communication During the Change Stage

The organization should ensure effective communication among employees to reduce uncertainty as well as organizational communication noise. People may indulge in spreading disinformation and lies with less information about the change process. Therefore, the communication has to have a more specific character than in the previous phase. Communication in this stage is essential to provide authentic, accurate, and detailed information on what will happen to those who have less sketchy details on implementing changes. Finally, it distributes the new responsibility among assigned people in the organization.

3. Refreezing Stage of Change

Refreezing stage of change is the third and final stage of the Kurt Lewin change management model. In this stage, employees adjust to the change of management daily. Refreezing is a slow process of adopting the new culture and atmosphere of the corporate workplace. Employees and stakeholders may take a long time to adjust to the new systems. The pace of the practice among employees determines the time of the refreezing stage. So, refreezing is the most crucial stage in the Lewin change management model. The new attitude and behavior of employees become solidified as the norm of the organization. Finally, everyone starts to feel comfortable as in the previous stage before unfreezing.

Communication During the Refreeze Stage

The communication process should answer employees’ queries regarding rewards, control, efficiency, and relationship roles. In this stage, the information flow should be concrete, continuous, and multidirectional so that employees have a sufficient understanding of the personal associations of the change. Unavoidable misunderstandings may occur in this phase, so; communication should focus on making the transition successful.

Lewin's Change Model Example

For example, An ice block cannot get converted into a new shape without melting it. So it would be best if you created a hot environment to melt the ice block. The temperature must be more than 32°F (0°C) temperature to melt the ice. So, here, increasing the temperature denotes the unfreezing stage.

According to Lewin's theory, unfreezing refers to preparation for accepting the new workplace norms. It is the initial stage to get ready to accept the change. The management needs to motivate employees to accept change.

It will take time to transform the entire ice block into water. Keep the glass isolated and ensure the temperature is suitable for melting ice. When the ice block completely transforms into water, pour it into a new pot to give it a unique shape. Here, pouring the water into a glass is changing steps or moving stage. Melting the ice denotes the change stage of Lewin's theory.

According to Lewin's theory, changing refers to accepting new norms and moving on to change. Thus, the employee starts to change and accept the new culture of the workplace.

Finally, keep the glass in a cold place to transform the water into ice again. It is the way of freezing the water to transform it again into a new solid shape. It is called the refreezing process and the final stage of Lewin's change management model.

Refreezing refers to adjusting to the new norms of the workplace. The employee has already accepted the change, and they adapt to the new environment.

The model summarized that successful management change is accomplished through a three-stage process; unfreezing, changing, and refreezing.

Lewin's Change Management Model Example

For example, the educational institute has shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, all organizations, including educational institutes, decided to conduct virtual or online classes to ensure the continuation of education for students. These educational institutes are applying online video meeting platforms, such as Zoom and Google Meet, to conduct virtual classes and organizational meetings. It was a new experience for lecturers; therefore, they were afraid of uncertainty and interested in taking online courses. But, the university authority compels them to accept the change. The university authority maintains effective communication through social media platforms to motivate employees to get change. They thought the organizational change would help achieve competitive advantages as the other educational institutes adopted it. So, finally, they accept the change and adjust to the new working environment. It is a perfect example of Lewin's Change Theory.

Lewin's Change Model Pros and Cons

Lewin's Change Management Model Strengths and weaknesses

Lewin Model Advantages

Firstly, Kurt Lewin's model is straightforward to understand; any organization can implement it efficiently. The management need not hire experts to execute the model. The existing employees will be able to apply it and evaluate the outcome. It has only three stages: unfreeze, change, and refreeze, so it is easy to understand and apply. For example, the McKinsey 7-S model has seven elements that are challenging to implement.

Lewin Model Disadvantages

Firstly, refreezing takes a long time to settle down with new norms. Additionally, many employees quit their job due to uncertainty regarding the latest norms and environment. Lewin's theory excludes many crucial elements, such as staff, structure, strategy, system, and style.

Kurt Lewin 1951 References

Lewin, K. (1951). Forces of change: Field theory in social science.

Citation for this Article (APA 7th Edition)

Kobiruzzaman, M. M. (2024). Lewin's Change Model- Lewin's Change Management Model of 3 Stage. Educational Website For Online Learning. https://newsmoor.com/lewins-change-model-3-steps-management-change-and-communication/

Red Ocean & Blue Ocean Strategy Examples & Difference in 2023

Red Ocean Strategy and Blue Ocean Strategy Examples & Difference in 2023. Difference Between Blue ocean and Red ocean strategy. Examples of Red Ocean and Blue Ocean Strategy. Also, Blue Ocean Strategy Four Action Framework.

Red Ocean Strategy

Red ocean strategy refers to the traditional marketing strategy to compete with the competitors. It is demonstrated when many companies compete to achieve a competitive advantage in the existing market. These companies contest in the same marketplace to beat their opponents. Red ocean strategy influences the company to provide better service to buyers. It mainly focuses on the existing customers and buyers rather than creating new customers. So, they provide better services and products to attract customers.

Characteristics of Red Ocean Strategy

Firstly, the red ocean strategy focuses on competing in the existing market. So, multiple companies compete with each other to achieve competitive advantages. The marketing team pursues both product cost and differentiation to beat other companies. Additionally, the company intended to provide better service to buyers—finally, they pay more attention to the current customers instead of looking for new clients.

For example, Malaysia and Air Asia Airlines follow the red ocean strategy to beat their competitors.

Red Ocean Strategy Examples

Air Asia is a renowned airline company in Malaysia. It always tries to compete with other airline companies in Malaysia, for example, Firefly, Batik Air, and Malaysia Airlines, to achieve competitive advantages. Air Asia offers low prices on domestic and international flights to beat the competitors. On the other hand, Malaysia Airlines also reduce the price to beat Air Asia. So, they fight each other in the same marketplace. It is a real-life example 0f the Blue Ocean Strategy.

Suppose we infer these giant companies with sharks and the marketplace with the ocean. So, imagine what will happen if all these sharks fight with each other. The ocean gets bloody due to the fierce fight of sharks.

Advantages of Red Ocean Strategy

Firstly, the market has already existed, so no need to create a new marketplace.

Secondly, the services and products have good demand by the customers. Many customers want the products so the new companies can utilize the existing consumers.

Additionally, the company can quickly recruit skilled employees with deep experience in the sector.

Finally, the new companies can get ideas on how to improve the business from their competitors.

Disadvantages of the Red Ocean Strategy

Firstly, competitors are experienced in this market, so it is difficult to beat them.

Secondly, the company needs to focus on cost and differentiation, which is difficult for a new business.

Blue Ocean Strategy

Blue ocean strategy refers to the uncontested marketing policy focusing more on innovation to reinvent the business than the head-to-head competition. W. Chan Kim and Renée Mauborgne introduced the Blue ocean strategy in 2005. It is a simultaneous process of opening a new business market and creating new demand; therefore, competition is irrelevant.

Blue Ocean Strategy Examples

There are several examples of the blue ocean strategy worldwide. Many industries had accepted it to get benefits, such as Netflix, Canon, iTunes, Cemex, Philips, NetJets, Curves, JCDecaux, Quicken, Polo Ralph Lauren, etc. iTunes solved the problem recording industries when it started the business. Before launching iTunes, consumers download a song illegally from the internet platform. ITunes’s blues ocean strategy created a new way of legally selling music, where consumers and artists mutually benefited. They managed to make a new category of music selling through digital music platforms for listeners. Still, it is dominating the marketplace of music platforms for years.

Netflix's organizational change is the most appropriate example of the Blue Ocean strategy. Netflix changed its business plan to create an uncontested new market. It is one of the most successful companies that accept the blue ocean strategy to achieve competitive advantages.

For example, Netflix, Canon, and iTunes follow the blue ocean strategy to achieve the competitive goal.

Blue and Red Ocean Strategy Examples

For example, you put some sharks in a pond. Now, they are fighting each other. The sharks are trying to kill others. A few hours later, you can see the water has been red for the shark's blood. We can infer this pond to the red ocean where many companies are competing with each other.

On the other hand, you put a shark in a separate pond. There is no other shark that can fight, so the water is blue and fresh. We can infer it to the blue ocean strategy where only one company controls the marketplace.

<yoastmark class=

Red Ocean vs. Blue Ocean Strategy

Red Ocean Strategy	Blue Ocean Strategy
The contest is in the same market.	Create an uncontested new market.
Many Companies compete with each other in the existing market.	One Company dominates the new Market.
Beats competitors.	Competitors are irrelevant.
The company pursues both cost and differentiation.	The company chooses between cost and differentiation.
Make the value-cost trade-off.	Break the value-cost trade-off.
Capture new demand.	Exploit existing demand.
Focus on rivals within its industry.	Focus across the alternative industry.
Intend to provide better service to buyers.	Redefine the buyer group.
Focus on current customers.	Focus on new customers.
The market is already established.	Need to make the new market.
For example, Ryanair and Air Asia Airlines.	For example, Netflix, Canon, and iTunes.

Difference Between Red Ocean and Blue Ocean Strategy

Red Ocean Strategy and Blue Ocean Strategy- Difference Between Red and Blue Ocean Strategy.

1. Focus on Current Customers vs. Focus on New Customers

Most industries focus on attracting existing customers to sell more products and services in the red ocean strategy. Thus, they focus on the current customer to make benefit by selling products and services.

In contrast, in the blue ocean strategy, the industry tries to change the business pattern to yield something new for the customers. The company also broadens the business area to develop new products or services; therefore, customers are irrelevant here. Thus, this strategy allows the company to focus on business patterns rather than customers.

2. Compete in Existing Markets vs. Create New Markets

From the red ocean strategy perspective, the industry is doing business with customers where some industries gain more clients, and some other sectors lose clients. They are doing business with the same customers and competing with each other to get more customers. The company will earn more money if it can bring more customers under its umbrella.

The blue ocean strategy never suggests the company compete because it makes a new uncontested marketplace. The product and service are unique; therefore, no company will come to compete with you. So, this strategy creates an uncontested market to serve its customers.

3. Beat the Competitor vs. Make the Competitor Irrelevant

The competition must exist in the company's marketplace that follows the red ocean strategy. They compete to sell more products and services to increase profit margins. So, they always intend to beat the competitors through marketing policy, product quality, and services.

The blue ocean strategy makes the competition irrelevant because they need not compete with other industries to sell products and services. It makes a new marketplace for the industry.

Key Points of Blue Ocean Strategy

The eight critical points of the Blue ocean strategy are as follows;

It’s grounded in data.
It pursues differentiation and low cost.
Blue ocean creates an uncontested market space.
It empowers you through tools and frameworks.
Blue Ocean's strategy provides a step-by-step process.
It maximizes opportunity while minimizing risks.
Blue ocean also builds execution into strategy.
It shows you how to create a win-win outcome.

Blue Ocean Strategy Four Action Framework

Chan Kim and Renée Mauborgne developed the four-action framework to destroy the trade-off between low cost and differentiation and rebuild an industry’s strategic logic. The four Actions Template determines whether the investment money is used correctly to maximize consumer gain and minimize consumer pain. It also assesses the gains with this template and the pains that matter for your product. It is the best way to get the most benefit with the lowest price within the total product market.

Four Action Framework Examples

**Figure 3:** Blue Ocean Strategy Four Action Framework

How to Use Four Action Templates

Eliminate

Firstly, you have to identify the factors of the industry that need to be eliminated because of defectiveness. Find out the elements where you give significant investment and effort but get very little output. These factors can also be made more contributions in the past but are now useless, so you need to eliminate them because of becoming obsolete.

Reduce

Secondly, you need to identify factors that are unnecessary for the industry and cannot correctly benefit the industry. These factors are well below the industry's standard. For example, the higher cost of manufacturing can reduce the product.

Raise

These significant factors need to be increased to fulfill the industries well above standards. For example, the company needs to rebuild the features to exceed the customer's challenges.

Create

These are the new features that the company never provided. To create these new features, you must investigate the customer's desire to fulfill them. The industry can also create new products or offer innovative consumer services. It will help the company to create a new marketplace distinguished from the competition.

Conclusion

In short, the Red ocean strategy refers to competing for the existing marketplace, whereas the blue ocean strategy denotes making a new uncontested marketplace. Based on the discussion, it is safe to say that the blue ocean is a better way to bring fewer risks, more success, and increased profits. In addition, the four action templates appear as the best solution to identify the industry's investment is properly or not. Hence, the blue ocean strategy and the four action framework have become innovative business innovations.