Hotel Annapoorna: Is Change Management and Leadership at a Crossroads?

This case encapsulates the challenges faced by Jegan Damodaraswamy in extending the core competency of quality and customer service for the renowned Hotel Annapoorna, in Coimbatore, India. In addition, he had to figure out how to overcome the hurdles after his grandfather’s death and retain the organization’s legacy. Damodaraswamy was a third-generation entrepreneur who took over the business as chief executive officer in 2023. Since taking over, he has introduced many changes and instilled business ethics in the organization. The organization bloomed under his leadership. However, COVID-19 caused a slump in the organization. They were unable to employ a full staff, and sales plunged drastically. How would Annapoorna rebuild its brand and reposition itself? Would Damodaraswamy re-envision his grandfather’s aspirations and strengthen the brand value? Should he drive toward transforming the organization and redefining its vision? The case illustrates change management in an organization and the trade-off between expanding a sustainably profitable core competency and growth to its other verticals.

The case is designed to accomplish the following learning objectives, which will help the learner to:<ul><li>Study the proposition of succession planning in an organization.</li><li>Understand the relational leadership model and can contribute to the development of collective and collaborative leadership actively.</li><li>Evaluate change management adopted by the organization and its implications.</li><li>Analyze the way organizational culture influences behaviour and performance—especially, how “cultures” of decision-making, risk-taking, ethical practices, teamwork, and citizenship activities emerge within organizations.</li></ul>

• change management and OD
• management of small enterprises