|  | | | What is change management? | Business change management is the practice of changing the way an organisation works. Depending on the nature of the change, this typically involves changes to people, processes and technology. This might, for example, require new processes, working methods and IT systems, behavioural and cultural change, and 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.
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 change often receives inadequate consideration.
My experience and the change management services I offer can help you to ensure that change within your organisation is planned and managed effectively, from initial analysis through to delivery. Engaging a change manager can also be an important psychological signal within your organisation to underline the importance of change. | | Contact | Please contact me to discuss how I can help with the change management requirements in your organisation. | |
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