Final answer:
The first stage in motivating Long and Foster employees to change is to create awareness about the need for change by clearly communicating the benefits and establishing a sense of urgency. This involves the responsibility of both the company and its employees to facilitate the process.
Step-by-step explanation:
If Long and Foster Real Estate Company management recognizes that its current practices are outdated and decides to emulate what Zenplace is doing, the first stage in motivating employees to change is to create awareness for the need for change. Schein's organizational culture theory (1988) suggests that such transitions often require individuals either to adapt to the new culture quickly if they are predisposed to it or to take more time to unlearn past behaviors.
Creating this awareness involves communicating clearly why the current practices are no longer suitable and how the new practices, as employed by Zenplace, will benefit both the employees and the company. This will establish a sense of urgency, which Kotter identifies as a crucial initial step in his 8-Step Change Model for leading change.
Essentially, the company needs to share the responsibility for adaptation with its employees, providing the necessary support and training to facilitate the transition. This may include workshops, seminars, and one-on-one coaching sessions to ensure that employees not only understand the new practices but are also competent and comfortable in executing them.