Mike provides a complete range of business change management services, including consultancy, change leadership, project & programme management, and communications & stakeholder engagement

What is change management?

Change management is the practice of successfully changing the way an organisation works. This typically involves changes to people, processes, technology and organisational structures. In some circumstances the change may be incremental, in others it may involve a much more radical ‘business transformation’ - for example, introducing completely new processes, working methods and IT systems, behavioural and cultural change, as well as involving the redesign of management systems, job roles and the interfaces between stakeholders.

Why change?

Organisations need to change or transform themselves for many reasons, broadly falling into the categories of performance improvement and environmental adaption.

Performance improvement often stems from a desire to increase market share, profitability or service levels. Environmental adaption may be required to meet challenges posed by competitors, new technology or legislation, to address issues such as corporate and social responsibility or to tackle issues such as reducing carbon emissions.

 

Effective change management

Despite the increasing pace of change, deciding what or how to change and delivering the expected benefits is frequently not straightforward, and neither is the implementation. As a result, many organisations experience change-related problems, and many changes fail to achieve their objectives. My experience can help you to ensure that change within your organisation is planned and managed effectively.

Effective change management demands a holistic approach. The people, process and technological aspects must all be assessed, managed and communicated. It is necessary to identify appropriate intervention points, balancing risk against potential outcome. There is normally a need to involve multiple stakeholders in the change process, reconciling their differing views, concerns and priorities. The change should also take into account the wider organisational objectives, values and cultures, and should be aligned with other initiatives in the organisation. To bring these aspects together, appropriate programme management and governance structures are required.

When the fundamentals of effective change are not adequately considered, it should not be a surprise that new policies, processes, or IT systems so often fail to deliver their promise. And, with many managers pressed for time, working within the constraints of vertically organised structures, or with limited cross-functional experience, it is perhaps unsurprising that implementing change can be problematic.

My experience and the change management services I offer can help you to ensure that change and transformation within your organisation is planned and managed effectively, from initial analysis through to delivery. In addition to the practical aspects, engaging a change manager or change consultant is also an important psychological signal within your organisation that underlines the importance of the change initiative.

 

Contact

Please contact me to discuss how I can help with the change management requirements of your organisation.