raverses a period of rapid technological and market change. On December 12, 2001 in the Vancouver Sun, it was announced that Gordon Wilson has been appointed president of news and information. Mr. Fishers new job will put him on a team of executives dedicated to the convergence of CanWests broadcasting, print and Internet properties.Problems EncounteredAs they implemented the change process, a number of potentially troubling themes emerged. The most serious related to the risk of incurring a significant drop in productivity and bottom-line performance as people adjusted to the New World. It is recommend they take a lesson from their predecessors and continue to move forward, possibly at a slower pace due to the accumulated debt incurred, while being careful to detect and avoid the land mines that lie ahead by growing too fast while establishing a global media/broadcasting network.Change RecipientsWhen the news of the convergence of the newspaper groups and stations was announced, employees at several of the stations and newspapers were shocked and feared the change. Management at Pacific Newspaper Group (CanWest Publication), which is the Vancouver Sun, and the Province told employees in several meetings of the changes that were to occur in the dissolving of several departments within their organization. Many of the departments such as Accounts Receivable, Accounts payable and customer service were being centralized to the head office in Winnipeg. However because of the heavy union membership at the Pacific Newspaper Group, currently these changes are still in arbitration. The fear that many employees would lose their jobs was becoming more serious. CanWest received tax breaks from the Manitoba government for the employment opportunities that CanWest has offered by moving the head Office to Winnipeg. Employees in each of the groups were concerned that the centralization of many departments would mean a loss of jobs in the papers...
