Human Resource

JWI 556: Leading Change by Putting People First
Assignment 4

© Strayer University. All Rights Reserved. This document contains Strayer University confidential and proprietary information and may not be
copied, further distributed, or otherwise disclosed, in whole or in part, without the expressed written permission of Strayer University. This
document is subject to change based on the needs of the class.

JWI 556 Assignment 4 (1244) Page 1 of 5

Assignment 4: Case Study, A Cultural Transformation at Southeastern Grocers
Due: Monday, 9:00 am (eastern), Week 10 (30% of total course grade)

Instructions:

Read the case A Cultural Transformation at Southeastern Grocers. You will likely need to read the case
several times and make notes. Allow yourself adequate time for this.

Assume the role of chief people officer at Southeastern Grocers (SEG). Create a plan for a change
initiative at SEG. Do not focus on sustaining the changes the company has already undergone. Instead,
determine what other change(s) SEG needs to make in addition to those mentioned in the case. Your
change initiative must be feasible, concrete, and HR-centric. Consider focusing on one particular workforce
topic (e.g., diversity and inclusion, trust in company leadership, attracting new talent) in which HR can lead
a significant change. Your plan should contain both an executive business brief and a change vision video:

1. Executive Business Brief

Write a 2-3-page brief that identifies a necessary organizational change. Think of this brief as a
summary document to be shared with SEG’s senior leadership. Your brief must address the
following prompts:

A. How would you describe SEG’s company culture?
B. Describe your change initiative. Why is it necessary?
C. Explain your change plan:

i. What is your change vision? How do you define it?
ii. Is there a sense of urgency? How will you generate it?
iii. How will you create a guiding coalition of key stakeholders and early adopters?
iv. How will you communicate your change vision to SEG employees?
v. What are the potential risks of your change initiative?
vi. How will you determine whether the change initiative is successful?

2. Change Vision Video

Using Zoom, create a 2-3-minute video that compellingly presents your change vision. Think of
this video as a pitch to SEG employees. You need their buy-in for your initiative to accomplish
anything; you have to generate excitement. Your main points should be simple and memorable,
and you should convey an appropriate amount of urgency. Make sure you answer the following
questions in your video:

a. What is the change you are advocating for?
b. Why is this change important and necessary for SEG?

JWI 556: Leading Change by Putting People First
Assignment 4

© Strayer University. All Rights Reserved. This document contains Strayer University confidential and proprietary information and may not be
copied, further distributed, or otherwise disclosed, in whole or in part, without the expressed written permission of Strayer University. This
document is subject to change based on the needs of the class.

JWI 556 Assignment 4 (1244) Page 2 of 5

c. How will the company benefit?
d. How will the individual employees benefit?
e. What does success look like?

Professional Formatting and Submission Requirements for Executive Business Brief:

• Typed, double-spaced, professional font (size 10-12), including headings and subheadings (to
identify main topics and subtopics), with one-inch margins on all sides.

• Use headings to identify each of the assigned prompts. Separate paragraphs by a single space.

• References must be included and provide appropriate information that enables the reader to
locate the original source. Application of course materials and resources is expected, and
additional research is welcome.

• Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, your name, the professor’s name, the
course title, and the date.

• The length is 2-3 pages, excluding your cover page and reference list.

Professional Formatting and Submission Requirements for Change Vision Video:

• Upload your video in .mp4 format. Include your first and last name in the filename.

• This should be a video of just you. No PowerPoint slides or props are needed.

• The length is 2-3 minutes.

JWI 556: Leading Change by Putting People First
Assignment 4

© Strayer University. All Rights Reserved. This document contains Strayer University confidential and proprietary information and may not be
copied, further distributed, or otherwise disclosed, in whole or in part, without the expressed written permission of Strayer University. This
document is subject to change based on the needs of the class.

JWI 556 Assignment 4 (1244) Page 3 of 5

Rubric: Assignment 4

30% of Total
Course Grade

Assignment 4: Case Study

Criteria Honors High Pass Pass Low Pass Unsatisfactory

1. Executive
business brief
identifies
SEG’s
company
culture,
identifies a
change
initiative, and
assesses why
the initiative
is needed.

Weight: 15%

Provides an
exemplary, clear,
and concise
explanation of
SEG’s company
culture. The
change initiative is
described in great
detail. The
rationale for it is
presented in an
extremely
compelling and
convincing
manner.

Provides a
complete, clear,
and concise
explanation of
SEG’s company
culture. The change
initiative is
described in detail.
The rationale for it
is presented in a
compelling and
convincing manner.

Satisfactorily
provides a clear
and concise
explanation of
SEG’s company
culture. Identifies
the change
initiative and
rationale for it in
some level of
detail.

Partially explains
SEG’s company
culture. Vaguely
describes the
change initiative
and the rationale
for it; the
initiative and
rationale have
very little
concrete detail.

Does not or
unsatisfactorily
provides a clear
and concise
explanation of
SEG’s company
culture. Does
not or
unsatisfactorily
describes the
change initiative
and the rationale
for it in a
compelling or
convincing
manner.

2. Executive
business brief
explains the
change
initiative plan
according to
the assigned
prompts,
detailing the
change vision,
sense of
urgency,
guiding
coalition,
communicatio
n strategy,
potential risks,
and
determination
of success.
Demonstrates
understanding
of the course
concepts.

Weight: 35%

Provides an
exemplary
description of the
change initiative
plan. Addresses
all six of the
assigned prompts,
offering unique
insights and clear,
persuasive
arguments.
Demonstrates a
complete, detailed
understanding of
the course
concepts.

Provides a
complete
description of the
change initiative
plan. Addresses all
six of the assigned
prompts.
Demonstrates a
detailed
understanding of
the course
concepts.

Satisfactorily
explains the
change initiative
plan. Addresses at
least five of the
assigned prompts.
Demonstrates a
satisfactory
understanding of
the course
concepts.

Partially explains
the change
initiative plan.
Addresses at
least four of the
assigned
prompts.
Demonstrates a
partial
understanding of
the course
concepts, but
lacks a detailed
grasp of them.

Does not or
unsatisfactorily
explains the
change initiative
plan according
to the assigned
prompts.
Demonstrates
little to no
understanding of
the course
concepts.

JWI 556: Leading Change by Putting People First
Assignment 4

© Strayer University. All Rights Reserved. This document contains Strayer University confidential and proprietary information and may not be
copied, further distributed, or otherwise disclosed, in whole or in part, without the expressed written permission of Strayer University. This
document is subject to change based on the needs of the class.

JWI 556 Assignment 4 (1244) Page 4 of 5

Criteria Honors High Pass Pass Low Pass Unsatisfactory

3. Executive
business brief
is logical,
professionally
formatted, and
free from
grammatical
errors.

Weight: 10%

Executive
business brief is
highly logical and
professionally
formatted. All
sources are
consistently cited
in-text and
references are
included in a
manner that
enables the reader
to easily identify
sources. There are
no mechanical or
usage errors.

Executive
business brief is
logical and
professional
formatted. Most
sources are
consistently
cited in-text and
the reference list
is included.
Mechanical and
usage errors, if
any, are minor
and have no
impact on the
flow of the brief.

Executive business
brief is satisfactorily
logical and
professional in
format. Sources are
mostly cited in-text
and the reference
list is adequately
formatted. There
are a few
mechanical and
usage errors, but
they do not
seriously impact
the flow of the brief.

Executive
business brief is
somewhat
professional in
format and
contains some
mechanical and
usage errors.
Sources are not
consistently cited
and/or the
reference list is
incompletely or
improperly
formatted.

Executive
business brief
is illogical,
unprofessional,
and contains
multiple
mechanical
and usage
errors.
References
and citations
may be
missing.

4. The change
vision video is
presented in a
compelling
manner that
engages
listeners. Video
addresses all 5
questions
about the
change vision.

Weight: 30%

The change vision
video is presented
in exemplary
fashion. It
thoroughly details
the rationale for
change, creates a
strong sense of
urgency,
comprehensively
lays out how SEG
and its employees
benefit, and
succinctly explains
what success
looks like. Video is
highly compelling,
engaging, and
addresses all 5
questions about
the change vision.

The change vision
video is well-
presented. It details
the rationale for
change, creates a
sense of urgency,
lays out how SEG
and its employees
benefit, and
succinctly explains
what success looks
like. Video is
compelling,
engaging, and
addresses all 5
questions about the
change vision.

The change
vision video is
satisfactorily
presented. It
details the
rationale for
change, creates
some sense of
urgency, lays out
how SEG and its
employees
benefit, and
explains what
success looks
like in general
terms. Video is
fairly engaging
and addresses 4
of the questions
about the
change vision,
albeit not in
detail.

The change
vision video is
presented. It
partially depicts
the rationale for
change, but does
not create a
sense of
urgency. It
partially explains
what success
looks like, but
not how SEG
and its
employees
benefit. The
video is not very
engaging and
addresses 3 of
the questions
about the
change vision.

The change
vision video is
unsatisfactorily
presented. Little
to no synthesis
of ideas is
demonstrated
and logical
reasoning is not
included or
evident. Video is
not engaging
and does not
address any of
the 5 questions
about the
change vision.

JWI 556: Leading Change by Putting People First
Assignment 4

© Strayer University. All Rights Reserved. This document contains Strayer University confidential and proprietary information and may not be
copied, further distributed, or otherwise disclosed, in whole or in part, without the expressed written permission of Strayer University. This
document is subject to change based on the needs of the class.

JWI 556 Assignment 4 (1244) Page 5 of 5

Criteria Honors High Pass Pass Low Pass Unsatisfactory

5. The change
vision video
has a
professional
look and feel
and stays
within the
timeframe.

Weight: 10%

The change
vision video is
extremely
professional. The
student is
professionally
dressed, has an
appropriate
background,
makes eye
contact, voice is
dynamic, and
verbal cues are
applied in
exemplary
fashion. Video
adheres to the 2-
3-minute time
limit.

The change vision
video is very
professional. The
student is
professionally
dressed, has an
appropriate
background, makes
eye contact, voice
is mostly dynamic,
and verbal cues are
completely applied.
Video may be over
the 3-minute time
limit, but by no
more than 1
minute.

The change vision
video is
professional. The
student is
somewhat
professionally
dressed, has an
appropriate
background, makes
good eye contact,
voice is somewhat
dynamic, and
verbal cues are
satisfactorily
applied. Video may
be over the 3-
minute time limit,
but by no more
than 2 minutes.

The change
vision video is
partially
professional.
The student is
fairly
professionally
dressed, has a
somewhat
appropriate
background,
makes little to
no eye
contact, voice
is fairly
dynamic, and
verbal cues
are partially
applied. Video
may not
adhere to the
2-3- minute
time limit.

The change
vision video is
not professional.
The student is
not
professionally
dressed, does
not have an
appropriate
background,
makes no eye
contact, voice is
not dynamic,
and verbal cues
are
unsatisfactorily
applied. Video
does not adhere
to the 2-3-
minute time
limit.