The Process of Change

The more I focus on the process of change, the more I become convinced that the five-step READY framework simplifies change and ensures complete communication between the project management team and the change management team. The project team delivers the technology, they deliver the project, the product. The change management team delivers the people to the product or technology. What does it mean to deliver the people? 

Delivering the people means we begin with evaluation and assessment:

1. Determining why we need this change 

2. Developing a vision to explain why we need the change in a relevant and relatable way 

3. Assessing the organization, people and, external factors that are influencing the organization

4. Identifying the impact that this change will have on people. 

Creating change strategy is the next step. Determining how we'll approach this change to ensure people understand and recognize the impact through communication, training, and leadership engagement on multiple levels, and identifying the components needed to help people adopt this change.

The execution and completion of the change management effort happen after the project management execution and completion. When the go-live date arrives, the project team begins to wrap up the project. The change management team is still in place to provide support for people as they begin to experience how to operate in the future state. Continuing support and providing transition to the sustainability plan until the change is embedded and becomes normal operating procedure, must occur to reach full adoption of the change.

One of the main components of the change management plan is the communication plan. I’m looking forward to sharing how to create cohesive change this week on Thursday, with your communication plan.