Making the most of change management tackles an identified set of problems with a clear goal in mind. Many companies embark on a mission to implement change process management in an effort to respond to shifts in the industry, operations or consumer market. Successful IT change management entails clear preparation and planning for organizational change management at each stage of progress. A well thought-out change management process leads to a competitive edge.
Proactive change management offers an organization the opportunity to capitalize on impending changes that occur as a natural part of business. Anticipate and effectively respond to ongoing systemic incidence with flexible change management software. Avoid the typical pitfalls that plague companies which fail at managing change and end up with skyrocketing project costs that outweigh any intended benefits. Consider the following information:
1. Stay up-to-date in the latest developments of in-house change management programs.
2. Weigh the benefits and costs of adding new change management tools.
3. Coordinate technology change management with all departments and front-line managers.
Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done
Plan a strategy to implement change management programs
Clear cut efforts to plan change process management goals and objectives at the onset help decrease unforeseen problems that hurt many IT change programs and systems. Review the risks and develop a counter strategy to address obstacles associated changes that impact methods and systems in the organization.
I recommend: Prosci's Change Management Learning Center offers free resources and training materials on planning change management programs.
Gantthead.com is an online community of IT change management project leaders who provide insight and articles about IT change management.
Measure the effectiveness of change management tools
Assessing the effectiveness of change management tools is essential to determine the success of a project. A company doesn't want to invest in change management that costs more to implement than the benefits. Evaluating change management tools beforehand avoids the issue of creating additional problems at the outcome.
I recommend: Pepperdine University’s Graziadio Business Report offers a cost benefit analysis formula for IT change management. The site also offers articles and podcasts on a broad range of subjects about business change management.
Holland and Davis provides a free organizational change management resource library including change assessment tools and change management consulting services.
Select change management software that produces results
Choose change management information and software solutions to maximize organizational work flow procedures. Minimize the effects of time consuming software changes that impede information systems project development.
I recommend: Intuit offer customized change management software for IT management tasks.
SunView Software provides live web seminars about change management issues, resource materials and free change management software to download for a trial period.
Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide
- Test major change management software applications in a small-scale mock file or scenario before implementing the change across the company.