Question

Though New Ideas Inc. has been in business profitably for 30 years, the company and its employees have seemingly been in a constant state of change. Paul Gill has been president of New Ideas for the last 15 years. During this time, he has had to change the strategic focus of the company three times. The employees have become vocal recently about the decrease in their bonus cheques and are waiting to share in the increased profits. It seems as though his competition is always introducing new products into the market, and the niches Gill thought New Ideas held leadership in are always changing. Recently the government has been active in passing new legislation to increase the control of the product packaging and product contents. The technology used to manufacture the products is constantly improving with the use of robotics to make the process more efficient.

New Ideas is a company that focuses on new ideas, uses technology that changes frequently, and has strong competition in a dynamic market. This is consistent with the ________ metaphor of the change process.
A) calm waters
B) blue horizon
C) white-water rapids
D) systems thinking

Answer 1

The metaphor that best represents the change process experienced by New Ideas Inc. is the 'white-water rapids' metaphor, depicting the company's constant need to adapt to an unpredictable and turbulent environment to maintain innovation and profitability.

Step-by-step explanation:

Given the constant state of change that New Ideas Inc. is experiencing, such as shifts in strategic focus, the introduction of new products by competitors, changing market niches, legislative changes affecting packaging and product contents, and advancements in manufacturing technology like robotics, the company's situation is best described by the “white-water rapids” metaphor of the change process. This metaphor captures the turbulent and unpredictable nature of the environment that New Ideas Inc. is operating in, where change is continuous and the ability to navigate swiftly and effectively is crucial for sustainability and maintaining innovation. The metaphor suggests that Paul Gill and his company must be proactive and agile, much like navigating through rapid waters, in adapting to new conditions and sustaining profits despite the hectic market competition and technological advancements.