Change management is the process of managing and implementing organizational change in a structured and efficient manner. It involves identifying the need for change, developing a plan for implementation and measuring whether the change has been successful.
This specialism involves strong stakeholder management skills. It will involve working with all levels of your organisation, and could involve managing external stakeholders’ as well, such as elected officials and the public. Stakeholder management is important to ensure that the change aligns with your initial goals and objectives, and that it is carried out in a way that minimizes disruption and maximizes benefits for the organization.
Change managers will generally work closely with those who manage employee communications in order to ensure that the message about a change ‘lands’ well with the business. But, the role of a change manager goes beyond just communicating. They will measure how people’s behaviour changes as a result of the messaging, how new ways of working are adopted and how new processes are taken up.
Practitioners are also likely to work closely with those involved in training and development, as changes to processes or technologies may require your people to develop new skills.
Additionally, project management skills are useful in the change management role, as developing and delivering upon strategies, action plans, and KPIs is important.
Change management has evolved and matured over the last 10 years. The methods used by change managers are increasingly common in the public sector and are beyond adopted by big businesses, particularly in tight regulatory environments, such as financial services, aviation and transport. These methodologies may assist organisations to implement strategic initiatives, such as expanding into new markets or introducing new products or services, as well as to manage operational changes, such as streamlining processes or implementing new technologies.
This blog will gather resources and information for those involved in Change Management, be they specialists or business leaders. Check back for more information posted weekly and please leave any feedback or suggestions using the Contact feature.