Change management is the process that involves making plans, implementing those plans, and then solidifying the changes made in a company or an organization. What is change management is all about handling the various changes, which include the carrying out of new technology, modifications in existing processes, and changes in the company’s hierarchy.
Three Tiers of Change Management
Change Management at Organizational Level:
This level includes the changes and the modifications made in the organizational hierarchy, introducing new methods, integrating new software, etc.
Change Management at Project Level:
All projects are meant to achieve something. Hence, there need to be strategies and plans that can help us achieve the goal by making a few changes to the project. At this level, such changes and modifications are dealt with.
Change Management of an Individual:
This is all about how to handle and manage the changes of an individual such that he or she performs better and can achieve his or her individual aims.
All modifications do not have to fit into a particular level perfectly. It’s completely okay if the levels of the alterations and modifications made or to be required overlap.
Importance of Change Management
Plans regarding change management help in the smoother implementation of any change. Without proper plans on how a change is to be managed, it may result in improper implementation and monitoring of the change, eventually failing. Hence, change management is vital.
Advantages of Change Management
Change management has the following advantages:-
- The main advantage is that change management aims to prevent any unnecessary change.
- Change management can help make clear aims to make a change and also help to monitor the outcomes actively.
- It helps in understanding the need for a change and its probable impact and helps build strategies for the implementation of the change effectively.
- We can also give an idea of the cost that may be required and keep all necessary resources ready once we know the exact change management plan.
- Change management also includes the capability of balancing all factors properly.
- Proper management of any change can increase its productivity and increase the probability of it being a success.
- It can accelerate the process of implementing the plan and make the entire process stress-free.
Any change, be it big or small, can prove beneficial if the change is adequately planned and executed.
Various Types of Change Management
Various types of change management can be applied. The type of change management to be used depends on the change that is to be made.
The four different types of change management are as follows:-
Exceptional: This type of change management includes isolated events and can affect an individual’s experience but may not bring any change in various aspects of life. Such an example is the change of name of an individual. It involves paperwork but will certainly not change the position of the person in the company.
Incremental: This change management method is for those changes for which there are no sudden shifts of roles or responsibilities. This type of change can be done to upgrade existing technology. Contrary to popular belief, it is not only radical innovations in processes and technology that bring about progress. Consistency has great power, and small steps can add up to massive changes. The Japanese have mastered this art of continuous improvement, and their electronic and automobile companies were runaway leaders in their heyday.
Pendulum: This kind of change management is done when there are sudden shifts from one state to another. This may include switching from one extreme side to the extreme side on the opposite. Such change management is done when an individual is shifted from one role to a completely different role, for example, if someone is moved from an in-office work environment to a remote team.
Paradigm: This type of change management is done in case of changes from which we get new values and beliefs. Such changes include changing from a synchronous communication model to a model involving both synchronous and asynchronous communication.
However, the plans on making a change should be effective, and the change management needs to be thoroughly implemented so that it doesn’t fail. It is crucial to keep the principles of change management in mind and keep improving it until it is perfect. Managing change is a hands-on skill and you gain expertise in it only through repeated practice. Become a change pioneer now, and try implementing change management in your area of business and reap the windfalls of positive business outcomes.