Using Engagement Through Change Management in Projects

Scott Metcalf

OP-340: Prof Johnstone

6 August 2013

Using Engagement Through Change Management in Projects

Change management is a process that manages modification of enterprise processes resulting from the project implementation. Subsequently, the change management process supports the acceptance, approval, and implementation of changes and process modifications. The change management process minimizes the impact of alterations, adds, and/or makeovers of business operations and processes. It enables enterprises to proactively address change planning, risk assessment and mitigation, and impact analysis. Implementing changes without predictability would reinforce a reactive, “firefighting” style of management. Change management ties into project management as a project moves forward towards implementation. With the business requirements identified under a project, change management is brought in to help identify the potential impacts to the organization. While there are many aspects to change management in this identification of impacts, the most beneficial aspect focuses on leadership engagement. Engagement of an organization’s leadership and management helps create an organization-wide sense of ownership of a project, thus instilling the necessary support the project needs to succeed once implemented. By first focusing on the needs for engagement for project to succeed, this paper will draw on the personal expertise of the author, a success change management consultant, to elaborate on the method by which stakeholder buy-in is achieved. Engaging all levels of an organization can help ensure the success of a project.

Change management focuses on engagement. The key component of change management is communication with all levels of personnel affected by the change. With change buy-in from different levels of management and resources, the transition process is simplified with less chance of resistance from those adverse to change. Oracle, a...