How
to Manage Change in an Organisation
If there is one word, we can use to describe our world today,
that word will be Change. Our world changes so rapidly and continuously, it is
increasingly becoming tedious to keep up. With change comes adjusting and
implementing changes to life in order to accommodate the change. This is even
more so for businesses as the normal we used to know have now disappeared
before our eyes, we are tending towards a new normal which is currently
evolving.
In order to implement new procedures, products, or any other
change in your company, you need to understand Change Management, this is a process
that assures your organisational structure, including employees, can handle
changes. When employees are properly prepared, they know the process and are
comfortable with it. Learning to manage change is important in maintaining
continuity within your business, here are some of the steps to take:
· Analyse your business and
determine areas where change is needed.
· Collect data and
information on the proposed changes and arrange the list in order of priority.
· Changes that need to be
made together should be grouped together. Analyse how the modifications affect
your business and create a presentation explaining why the transformation is
good and how it positively impacts the business.
· Present your information
to managers and executives. Encourage input about the proposed changes,
including how managers feel it will impact their specific departments. Adjust
the plan based on manager and executive input.
· Introduce the change plan
to employees through an introductory memo released at least 60 days prior to
the projected date that the change takes place. Encourage workers to give input
on the plan by creating employee groups to analyse and contribute ideas on the
plan.
· Begin training to
implement the change in phases for all employees. Start training at least 30
days prior to the projected change date. Make training interactive and
encourage employees to ask questions that will help them understand the change
better.
· Roll out an offline
version or model of the change at least two weeks prior to the change date to
allow employees to experience the change and experiment with it. For example,
if a new computer program is being introduced, a sample version of the program
can be made accessible to employees so they can see how the software works. As
the sample program is not connected to the company's database and not used for
live activity, it can show employees how the new software works without
affecting business.
· Create a timetable for implementing change but be prepared to
alter it if modifications need to be made before implementation.
Starting my career journey with a start-up, changes
had to be made when necessary to the way we carry out our operations but then
again it all turns out to be a good one for the betterment of the organisation
at large.
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