Change Management

This paper will provide a summary to the book “Change management, the People Side of Change” written by Jeff Hiatt and Timothy J. Creasey as well as providing a comparative point of view of the book “Managing Organizational Change” written by Ian Palmer, Richard Dunford and Gib Akin. The title of the book “Change Management, the People Side of Change” drew my attention as in my experience with organizational change I have seen many models employed but rarely have I seen change management driven from the people side (employee side) of the change so I thought I needed to know what the point of view would be. What I have learned in my experiences is that in this, or any environment people need to be willing to accept and embrace change, this may be difficult to do since many organizations only go through the steps of the change without recognizing the human capital impact on the eventual outcome of the change. This book provides an understanding for the necessity to include the human variable into the change process model. This book also links directly with the course text for which this book was read on various levels. These corresponding levels will be discussed throughout the review.

Change management consists of the planning, implementation and consultation of those affected by the changes. The book offers six chapters each encompassing its own subject title. Chapter one asks the question “Why manage change?” then goes into providing details to answer this question. It also points out key questions that one should ask before implementing the change: What do we wish to achieve with the change and why? Who is affected by the change and what would be the reaction? How can the achievement of the change be measured? This chapter provides support for change management programs which focuses on the people involved with change.

The chapter explains that there will be no change if you do not have the human capital to implement the change and provides...