Effective Change Management in a Nutshell

In today’s fast paced world, every organization will encounter some type of change whether it’s cultural, operational, process, or technological change. The ability to adopt changes and manage changes effectively are being viewed as a competitive advantage in our ever changing business world.

But what is Change Management? It is a structured approach that leads the people through the change process by working collectively towards a common objective, realizing benefits and delivering results.

There are three main phases in Change Management:

Phase 1: Preparing for Change

Rather than hit the ground running, change management requires leaders to take time to educate their teams and make sure they understand the changes they are faced with, as well as what these changes can potentially mean to the organization, its supply chain, and its clients. By creating a collaborative environment that embraces diversity of thoughts encourages team involvements and overall support for changes.

Phase 2: Managing Change

When implementing changes, moral deterioration and passive resistances are common risks that can be mitigated through active communication that recognizes short-term wins and addresses questions openly and honestly while encouraging continuous support and involvement.

Phase 3: Reinforcing Change

Once the changes has been implemented, it is key to develop ways to sustain the change. Establishing a feedback system, providing support and training, or creating a reward system are ways to reinforce the changes. Of course, it is always important to show recognition and celebrate success!

Overall, an effective application of change management increases the probability of project success, and ultimately resulting in higher benefit realization and return on investment.

By: Cindy Xu