Analysis of the Main Coal Mining Restructuring Policy Objectives in the Light of Polish Mining Companies’ Ability to Change

Abstract

This article presents the results from research performed on the implementation of restructuring policies of Polish mining enterprises. The study sought to verify whether the changes planned in Poland since the 1990s have been successfully introduced. The main objective of the restructuring of the Polish mining industry was to transform it into a profitable, cost-effective sector, which would be able to survive in a competitive market. The study also allowed the determination of a ratio giving a clear and synthetic outcome—called the indicator of the ability to change (WZZ). This indicator included criteria for assessing the efficiency of a company during the process of change, the fundamental errors committed during the change process, and the reasons for a low level of ability to change. The WZZ indicator achieved only an average level of 30%. The main errors committed during the change process are the mining enterprises’ lack of experience in change management and a lack of executive conviction about the need not only for proper management of the process of change, but also for change in general. The problem is also a lack of adequate knowledge, competence in the field of change management, and communication with employees. Low level of ability to change is caused by the inflexible organizational structure, the organizational culture, a lack of motivation, and the limited flexibility of the human factor.