The rebuilding projects at Arsenal and Harambee Stars are evidence of the growing pains in change management. One of the steps in Kotter’s change management is that followers struggle to understand the direction of the change process and even resist it based on the fears they have.
At Arsenal, some fans are even fearful the club may even be relegated to the Championship for the first time in their decades-long history. At Harambee Stars, there has been so much tinkering with the national team set-up, including a high turnover of coaches, that many fans are struggling to believe things will be different this time round.
Realising change on many occasions entails making unpopular decisions that will ruffle a lot of feathers. Bar Dennis Oliech and Michael Olunga, Wanyama has been the poster boy of the national team, decorating the Kenyan brand by virtue of his stints at English sides Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton.
In Arsenal’s case, Arteta’s ostracisation of record assist-maker Mesut Ozil was the source of so much division among the clubs fans, especially as the club struggled for most of last season for lack of a creative outlet.
The jury is out on whether Arteta and Mulee will live to see the fruits of their labour. Many others in similar contexts have suffered the sack as the patience of their bosses waned. On the other hand, it is admirable that both men have chosen to think differently and chart their own path regardless of the abuse and ridicule they attract from outside quarters.
