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In the world of Projects management, change is the core aspect at every step of the process. The Project may require some tweaks due to changes in requirements or due to new stakeholder needs. Change is a must part of Project management. To tackle that change there comes Change management.

What is Change Management?

Change management is the process that describes, how an organization deals with the change. It can be defined as, the methods and techniques by which a company identifies the change, Analyzes, and implements it at various levels of the Project management cycle. It can include different steps such as monitoring pre and post-change activities, interaction, and preparation of employees to manage and implement the change successfully.

Why is Change Management Important?

In life, Change is Inevitable! Due to this fast-changing world, the techniques and methodologies are constantly changing with time. Every organization needs a proper change management strategy to succeed. When positive change is applied correctly it drastically increases the ROI and decreases the cost and risks which are involved in the project.

The Steps of Change Management Process

There are 5 main steps of change management in an organization. From the need for change to implementing change Successfully.

1: Preparation

The first step towards change management is preparing the organization or The team for change. They should be ready both physically and logically to welcome change in order to implement it successfully. In this phase, the Project manager is focused to explain the need for change to the employees and the team members. Gaining the trust and satisfaction of the team is necessary before pursuing the actual change.

2: Planning

This step is followed by processing a complete plan to implement the change from start to finish. In this phase, the Project manager set new goals and objectives, Indicates the key areas of operation, redefines the project scope to the Team and the stakeholders.

3: Implementation

After the plan, the implementation process is executed, and the Team works to test the change in the real project environment. This phase is necessary as it involves real implementation and execution.

4: Embedding Change

The Embedding phase is the most difficult phase for all the employees of an organization. This step includes restructuring the project with a newly implemented change. It defines new controls and procedures in the project life-cycle to stick to the New change.

5: Review

In this step, the project performance is analyzed with the new changed strategy. Conducting analysis and review can help business owners and Project Managers to understand whether a change initiative was a success, failure, or mixed result.

Models of Change Management

There are different change management models available for an organization to choose from. Each Model helps the Project Manager choose the most suitable technique for the change implementation according to their needs.

1: ADKAR Change management model

Developed by Jeff Hiatt, the ADKAR model focuses on 5 aspects of change management. All these aspects define the change management lifecycle.

  • Awareness
  • Desire
  • Knowledge
  • Ability
  • Reinforcement

 

2: The McKinsey 7-S model

This model is developed by McKinsey & Company consultants to provide the 7 components of Change Management.

  1. Strategy of Change
  2. Structure of Organization
  3. System of Processes
  4. Shared company values and culture
  5. Style of work
  6. Staff or Team Involvement
  7. Skills of the Team

Tips of Successful Change Management

Some of the Tips for implementing a successful change management process.

  • Be Flexible

Be ready to adapt to change at any phase of the project life-cycle. It ensures flexibility to work and accommodate a Successful change management plan.

  • Use the Resources for Easy Implementation of Change

Using all the available resources can reduce the burden of welcoming the change. A staffing plan that contains advisors gives your business the flexibility to staff up and down with on- or off-site workers as company preferences and conditions evolve during and after a major change.

  • Interact Always

Communication is the key when welcoming change. Interaction is the core aspect of Change management as it provides a platform to discuss and explore different ideas to develop a change strategy.

Tools of Change Management

When approaching the process of change management, Project Managers can apply tools, knowledge, and resources to effectively drive organizational success. Some of the Change Management Tools used in the industry are as follows.

  • Flow Charts

Like any other process of development, Change management also involves the planning phase. Flow charts allow the construction of a complete workflow to implement change.

  • Gantt Charts

Gantt charts allow the Project managers to map the whole change management life-cycle. Gantt charts track the working time for every process of change management.

  • ADKAR Analysis

As defined above the ADKAR model also provides an analysis tool to track the progress at different steps of Change management.

Resistance to Change and How to Overcome it?

Many Organizations and Employees do not always welcome the change. As it needs a complete restructure and implementation. The steps involved when opting to change can be difficult. Resistance to change is a factor that can lead to a lack of support and inconsistency in the Project Market. To overcome the Resistance, The Project managers provide a complete walkthrough to explain the importance and benefits of Change Management. Here are some of the Steps to overcome Resistance to change.

  1. Structure the Team Well
  2. Show Passion towards Success
  3. Empower Creativity
  4. Communicate Freely
  5. Be Supportive

The Benefits of Successful Change Management

When Deployed correctly, Change management drastically improves the strategy and workflow of any organization. It helps a smooth shift from the old to the new and gives you a template to follow for supporting your staff and your organization to adapt to change.

  • Change in the Environment also introduces a new design for an organization as every employee is shifting from old standards to new updated ones.
  • Change management also improves the ROI as the new updated system is created to produce more fruitful results.
  • Increased productivity reduces the cost as efficient methods improve the resource usage of the Organization.

Conclusion

Organizations of all sorts always experience change, because as industries grow, businesses have to evolve, and requirements and needs both changes with time. Change management is the Process of welcoming change with fruitful results. The Process itself needs a complete planned approach to implement successfully. Choosing a good Model can be helpful when proceeding to change management.

Well, Change is what everyone needs to evolve, and Change Management is the Key to Evolving Successfully!

  • Dr Faiz Rasool
    CEO and Founder at PM Training School (PMI Premier and SAFe Transformation Partner)

    Faiz runs PM Training School, a PMI's Premier Authorised Training Partner and SAFe Bronze transformation partner. Dr Faiz Rasool is a multi-award winning Agile and Business Transformation Consultant, Speaker, Trainer and Coach who finely combines on one hand an in-depth knowledge and grasp of Project/Programme/Portfolio Management and on the other hand, experience and expertise in Business Strategy, Business Analysis and Change Management. A rare mix of competencies that perfectly blend and are needed for driving corporate growth. Faiz have demonstrated a track record of driving growth, managing successful transformation projects, improving Business Process, and successfully creating solutions for complex business problems. Faiz brings a mix of best practice thinking, practical experience and working knowledge of the local operating environment to projects and consulting engagements.

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