IOP4867
Assignment 04
Due 04 August 2025
, IOP4867
ASSIGNMENT 04
Due 04 August 2025
Strategic Change Initiative in a South African Organisation
Organisation: Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd.
Change Initiative: Just Energy Transition (JET) Strategy
Abstract
This assignment critically examines the strategic change initiative of Eskom Holdings
SOC Ltd—South Africa’s largest electricity utility—focusing on its Just Energy Transition
(JET) programme. The analysis explores Eskom's transition from coal-based energy
production to a sustainable, inclusive, low-carbon future. Key stakeholders involved in
this process include Eskom’s executive leadership, government departments,
international donors, labour unions, and local communities. The study identifies the
motivations behind the change, including environmental obligations, infrastructure
decay, and global investment pressures. Using Lewin’s Three-Step and Kotter’s Eight-
Step models, the change process is dissected to reveal both progress and systemic
limitations, such as governance fragility and operational bottlenecks. The outcomes
reveal partial successes, including decommissioning of coal plants and international
funding secured, yet persistent challenges in implementation and public trust remain.
Recommendations include institutionalising multi-stakeholder governance, fostering
local energy cooperatives, and strengthening internal capabilities. The reflection
underscores the complexity of organisational transformation in a politically charged,
resource-constrained context, highlighting the distinction between technical and socially
just transitions. The study offers critical insights for applying change theory in real-world,
emerging market environments.
Assignment 04
Due 04 August 2025
, IOP4867
ASSIGNMENT 04
Due 04 August 2025
Strategic Change Initiative in a South African Organisation
Organisation: Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd.
Change Initiative: Just Energy Transition (JET) Strategy
Abstract
This assignment critically examines the strategic change initiative of Eskom Holdings
SOC Ltd—South Africa’s largest electricity utility—focusing on its Just Energy Transition
(JET) programme. The analysis explores Eskom's transition from coal-based energy
production to a sustainable, inclusive, low-carbon future. Key stakeholders involved in
this process include Eskom’s executive leadership, government departments,
international donors, labour unions, and local communities. The study identifies the
motivations behind the change, including environmental obligations, infrastructure
decay, and global investment pressures. Using Lewin’s Three-Step and Kotter’s Eight-
Step models, the change process is dissected to reveal both progress and systemic
limitations, such as governance fragility and operational bottlenecks. The outcomes
reveal partial successes, including decommissioning of coal plants and international
funding secured, yet persistent challenges in implementation and public trust remain.
Recommendations include institutionalising multi-stakeholder governance, fostering
local energy cooperatives, and strengthening internal capabilities. The reflection
underscores the complexity of organisational transformation in a politically charged,
resource-constrained context, highlighting the distinction between technical and socially
just transitions. The study offers critical insights for applying change theory in real-world,
emerging market environments.
