Change management is a structured approach to shifting / transitioning individuals, teams, and organisations from a current state to a desired future state. It is an organisational process aimed at empowering employees to accept and embrace changes in their current business environment.

It is a structured approach in that knowledge, tools and resources need to be systematically applied to effect the change. It means defining and adopting new strategies, structures, procedures and technologies to effect or deal with changes inside the team or organisation, or to effect or deal with changes in the external environment.

There are a number of change management tools and techniques used to prepare, manage and reinforce both the people-side of change as well as the process-side of change in other to achieve the required outcomes, and to realise the change effectively within individuals, teams or the wider organisation.

Preparing for change will include:

• Defining the change management strategy
• Building a vision of change
• Creating a sense of urgency around real and relevant objectives
• Preparing the change management team
• Developing the change sponsorship model

Managing change will include:

• Developing change management plans
• Taking action and implementing the change plans
• Collecting and analyse feedback
• Diagnosing gaps and managing resistance to change
• Implementing corrective actions where required

Reinforcing change will include:

• Celebrating success – big and small
• Reinforcing the value of successful change
• Identifying and rewarding new or emerging change leaders
• Incorporating change into culture through recruitment and promotion of future change leaders
• Highlighting and communicating future change objectives