Change Management
Who is the agent of change? Look around at the people next to you and you will realize you are all agents of change. People are the key to change. A big part of project management is managing the change that the project produces. There must be senior-level support, communication, superior team members, and teamwork based on truthfulness. A project cannot succeed without executive support both in words and actions. Change has to be planned. Senior management must know the message they want to convey and who is to receive that message. It is important to have the right people doing the right job. It is also essential for those affected by the change to understand why the changes are taking place, the value of the changes, and how the changes will benefit them. Change can be facilitated through newsletters, meetings, e-mails, focus groups, formal training, and town hall meetings. It is essential that all involved have a thorough understanding of the change that is about to take place.
Before change is to take place, you must first know what you want to change, how you want to change it, where you are right now, and how will you measure success. You must also know who will be affected by the change and how they will be affected. It is imperative to realize that not all people accept change willingly. For some change can be stressful and upsetting. The goal of change management is to bring about change without upsetting the organization. Involve your people in the process of developing a change management plan and a process of educating and informing the organization. Let those affected by the change be part of planning the change process.
Research has produced many theories, opinions, and viewpoints of change management processes. Below is a chart that summarizes the phases, activities, and key deliverables of change project management.
Change...