| Every organization has a complex culture and set | | | | of the business. The project and associated |
| way of doing things. Some companies have | | | | changes in processes and policies need to be |
| processes and policies that have been in place for | | | | driven from the top down. Employees will still |
| decades and usually it is unknown as to why they | | | | grumble, but the project champion needs to |
| still exist. The idea that "This is the just the way | | | | support the change and help the culture assimilate |
| we do it" is a common justification for following | | | | the new vision. |
| the same business practices and never thinking | | | | 2. Communicate a consistent message - |
| that there is a better way. People resist change, | | | | Communication is key to disseminating the answer |
| some actually loathe doing something different | | | | to the question; "Why do we need to do this?" If |
| because they do not see it as a potentially | | | | you cannot answer this question for them, |
| wasteful or broken process, only that it is the | | | | change will be difficult and the project will stall. |
| way things get done. | | | | 3. Finally, show progress of each project phase |
| An important aspect to any project is the impact | | | | and what the project team has accomplished. If |
| of change management to the organization. As | | | | the stakeholders see that change is not that bad |
| new tools drive new processes and policies, the | | | | and progress is being made toward the new |
| people who are affected can be confused, angry | | | | business goal, they will feel more comfortable and |
| and highly anxious about their future roles and | | | | confident in the decisions being made. |
| responsibilities. | | | | In summary, people are the human assets that |
| To help mitigate the issues associated with | | | | are impacted by change management and every |
| change, it is important to have the following 3 | | | | project manager should be sympathetic to the |
| things in place to help drive the processes and | | | | cultural issues that bubble up during the project. |
| policies to support the new vision: | | | | Effective communication and support from the |
| 1. Executive Management support is crucial to | | | | executive leadership will help drive the vision and |
| helping the organization move into the next phase | | | | strategies to support the effort. |