Change management is the process during which the changes of a system are implemented in a controlled manner by following a predefined framework/model with, to some extent, reasonable modifications.
Disciplines of Change Management
The term “change management” can refer to different disciplines, such as:
- Engineering- Process in systems engineering
- People- Structured approach to change in individuals, teams, organizations and societies
- IT Service Management
- Health- Systematic healthcare reform
- Documentation- Systematic process of managing the changes of official documents
The turbulent business environment in which most organizations operate means that not only is change becoming more frequent, but that the nature of change may be increasingly complex, and the impact of change is often more extensive.
Fundamental versus Incremental Change
Many of the change situations in which a manager can be involved are incremental rather fundamental, and although there is some common ground, there are also differences in how these two types of situations should be managed.
Consequenses of Inappropriate Change Management
As change situations are different, the response should be varying with the situation. Badly handled change situations can lead to serious consequences, which may include:
- Frustration of otherwise sound strategies. Many planned strategies are never implemented, often because the change process is badly managed.
- Cost of implementation may rise. Delays, spoiled work and emergency action to reduce the impact of delays all add up to higher costs.
- Benefits of change may be lost, for example through competitors getting in first and taking a market share.
- Human consequences. The human price when change leads to people losing their jobs is already high, but it becomes much worse when change is handled carelessly or without adequate planning.
- Motivation may be reduced within the organization as people feel the confusion and chaos that often accompany a poor change management solution, and faith is lost in senior management.
- Resistance to future changes may increase as people feel that their worst fears about the change are justified.
It may never be possible to make all types of change situation smooth and pleasant experiences for everybody. But it is always possible to approach situations with care, diagnosing the nature of the change, selecting the best way to plan for it, and implementing those plans.
Examples of Change Management
In change management, it is important to estimate what impact a change will likely have on employee behavior patterns, work processes, technological requirements, and motivation. Examples of organizational change help to illustrate their variability and the importance of understanding how to manage them successfully.
References:
- “How to Manage Organisational Change”, D. E. Hussey. Biddles Ltd, Guildford, Surrey. 1995.
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