CTSC practice question 3 of 25

Which of the following roles does a change agent involved in supply chain transformation most likely play?

Full set: 151 questions

Answer options

A: Supports change

B: Manages change

C: Initiates change

D: Facilitates change Correct answer

Correct Answer:

D. Facilitates change

Explanation

A change agent in a supply chain transformation acts primarily as a facilitator. This role is more encompassing than merely initiating, managing, or supporting the change. As a facilitator, the agent guides the process, helps teams navigate obstacles, fosters communication, builds consensus, and empowers employees to adopt new processes and technologies. They make the change process smoother and more effective by working with and through people, rather than simply directing them. This collaborative and enabling function is the core of modern change agency.

Why Incorrect

A. "Supports change" is too passive; a change agent takes an active, leading role in enabling the transformation, not just agreeing with it.
B. While change management is a component, the agent's role is broader, focusing on the human and cultural elements, not just project management tasks.
C. Change is often initiated by senior leadership due to strategic needs; the change agent is then brought in to help implement and facilitate that change.

References

1. Caldwell, R. (2003). Models of change agency: a fourfold classification. British Journal of Management, 14(2), 131-142. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8551.00270. This paper classifies change agents, highlighting the facilitator role as one focused on helping clients solve their own problems.

2. APICS CSCP Learning System. (Module: Supply Chain Strategy, Design, and Compliance). Change management sections describe the role of change agents in guiding teams through transitions, which aligns with the concept of facilitation.

3. Kotter, J. P. (1996). Leading Change. Harvard Business School Press. Kotter's framework emphasizes creating a guiding coalition and empowering broad-based action, roles that are fundamentally facilitative in nature for a change agent.

Question breakdown

Tests: Distinguish change management roles in transformation
Difficulty: Medium

Key idea: A change agent primarily facilitates change by helping people and teams move through the transition, while sponsors initiate change and managers or leaders own it.

How to reach the answer

Separate the typical roles: the sponsor initiates and authorizes change, leaders manage it, and stakeholders support it.
A change agent works between leadership and the people affected, enabling communication, collaboration, and adoption.
The phrase 'most likely' points to the role that best fits the change agent across contexts.
Facilitation captures that enabling role better than initiating, managing, or simply supporting.

Each option

AIncorrect. Supporting change describes stakeholders or employees in general, not the agent's active enabling role.
BIncorrect. Managing change is usually the responsibility of the change leader or project manager.
CIncorrect. Initiating change is normally the role of the executive sponsor who authorizes the transformation.
DCorrect. Change agents facilitate the process, helping people understand, accept, and carry out the change.

Common trap: 'Initiates change' sounds like what an 'agent' does, but initiation typically sits with the sponsor.

In practice: In supply chain transformations, change agents run workshops, gather resistance feedback, and coach teams, while sponsors provide authority and funding.

Remember: Sponsors initiate, leaders manage, change agents facilitate.

Drafted with AI assistance and checked against the answer key.

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