What is Organizational Change Management? | Introduction to Change Management

Summary

Eric Kimberling, CEO of Third Stage Consulting, explains organizational change management as the process of altering people and culture within an organization to align with transformational goals. He emphasizes the importance of executive alignment, defining business processes, adjusting roles and responsibilities, and influencing culture. Kimberling also highlights the often-overlooked aspect of benefits realization, which measures the tangible outcomes of change efforts.

Takeaways

• 🔍 Organizational change management is about altering people, processes, and culture within an organization.
• 👤 It's crucial to align people and ensure they understand the change, its reasons, and its implications.
• 📈 Eric Kimberling, CEO of Third Stage Consulting, emphasizes the importance of executive alignment before initiating change.
• 🛠 Defining business processes and how technology fits into these changes is a fundamental part of change management.
• 👷‍♂️ Change management involves understanding how individual roles and responsibilities are affected by the change.
• 🌐 Culture is a significant aspect of change management, and it's important to consider what kind of culture the organization aims to achieve.
• 🔄 The process of cultural change is cyclical, requiring changes in people to influence the culture, and vice versa.
• 🚀 For effective change, it's necessary to help employees transition from the current state to the future state.
• 📊 Benefits realization is about measuring the outcomes of change efforts and their impact on company-wide performance.
• 📚 Kimberling offers resources such as papers, guides, and videos for those seeking detailed knowledge on executing change management.

Q & A

What is organizational change management?

Organizational change management involves anything required to change people and an organization's culture. It focuses on the human side of business, ensuring alignment and addressing the organizational and human aspects of transformation.

Why is organizational change management important?

It's important because it helps to ensure that changes are effectively communicated and implemented, reducing resistance and increasing the likelihood of successful transformation.

Who is Eric Kimberling and what is his role in organizational change management?

Eric Kimberling is the CEO of Third Stage Consulting and a change management consultant with 22 years of experience. He helps clients navigate their transformation journeys.

What does Eric Kimberling believe is the starting point of change management?

The starting point of change management, according to Eric Kimberling, is changing people, getting them aligned, and ensuring the human aspect of transformation is addressed.

Why is executive alignment crucial in the change management process?

Executive alignment is crucial because it ensures that leaders have a clear understanding of the change, its implications, and the key decisions behind it, which is necessary for effective communication and execution throughout the organization.

How does organizational change management address business processes?

It involves defining changes to business processes in detail, understanding how technology fits in, and how roles and responsibilities will change as a result of these transformations.

What is the role of culture in organizational change management?

Culture plays a significant role as the type of change an organization undergoes should impact or influence its culture. Change management must consider and work towards bending and influencing the culture over time.

How does change management help employees transition through changes?

Change management helps employees by defining a transition plan tailored to the organization, assisting individuals and work groups in migrating from the current state to the future state.

Why is benefits realization an important component of change management?

Benefits realization is important because it involves measuring the results of change efforts, holding individuals accountable, and allowing the organization to quantify the success of the change and make necessary adjustments.

What are some tools and mechanisms used in change management to align people?

Tools and mechanisms may include communication plans, training programs, role clarification, and cultural interventions, all aimed at aligning people with the change and ensuring they understand and support it.

How can an organization ensure that its change management approach is not a 'cookie-cutter' approach?

An organization can ensure a tailored approach by considering its unique context, culture, and goals, and by customizing change management strategies and tools to fit its specific needs.