Managing the change project

Disciplines > Change Management > Managing the change project

Managing the change project through its operational phase is a difficult job, even in what seems initially to be a simple project. Not only are change projects complex, they also are highly mobile beasts that slither and slide unless you manage them very carefully.

• Sponsorship of change: Whatever you do, manage your sponsors.
• Stakeholders in change: Managing the people effects.
• Organizing for change: Creating the change organization.
• Styles of change: the style used should match the scope.

And particularly remember to manage the people:

• The Kübler-Ross grief cycle: Manage the people through their emotional cycles.
  • Shock stage: Initial paralysis at hearing the bad news.
  • Denial stage: Trying to avoid the inevitable.
  • Anger stage: Frustrated outpouring of bottled-up emotion.
  • Bargaining stage: Seeking in vain for a way out.
  • Depression stage: Final realization of the inevitable.
  • Testing stage: Seeking realistic solutions.
  • Acceptance stage: Finally finding the way forward.
• The positive change cycle: Even good news has its ups and downs.
• Lewin's freeze phases: Unfreeze, transition, refreeze.
  • Unfreezing techniques: Ways to get them going.
  • Transitioning techniques: Ways to keep them moving.

See also

Leadership