Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Competency Models
The Change Management Institute Change Manager Competency Models set an independent
industry benchmark for change management practitioners at 3 different levels:
Foundation
Specialist
Master
The Change Management Institute is committed to the creation, evolution and promotion of professional
standards in Change Management. The Change Manager Competency Models have been developed in
consultation with practitioners and employers across the world. The model is is used in a variety of ways and is
reviewed regularly to ensure that it remains current.
The Competency Models are clusters of behaviours that are related to success in a given role. This provides a
strong focus on what change practitioners can and would be expected to do in their roles. For guidance on
what change practitioners must know in order to display those competencies effectively please refer to the CMI
Change Management Body of Knowledge (CMBoK).
The skill topic areas are similar across the Models, but the key difference is in the depth and breadth of
experience expected at each level.
CMI Accreditation:
The Competency Models are the assessment standard for the Change Management Institute’s Accredited
Change Manager program. CMI Accreditation is an independent assessment of a candidate’s ability to
demonstrate the behaviours outlined in the model.
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Competency Model – Summary of 3 Levels
Note: The skill topic areas are almost the same for each of the three levels of Competency Model – Foundation,
Specialist and Master. It is the depth and breadth of experience that is different and this is reflected in the
indicative behaviours.
The competency behaviours in italics in the Master column are the behaviours that are different from the Specialist
level.
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Competency Model – Summary of 3 Levels
Facilitating The consideration of each change individually and the planning of the
Change most appropriate approach to the situation
The Environment Consistently remains open to Consistently remains open to Consistently remains open to
ideas, supports and uses good ideas, supports and uses good ideas, supports and uses good
ideas to solve problems and ideas to solve problems and ideas to solve problems and
address issues address issues address issues
Can appreciate when Considers business context and Considers the organisation’s
stakeholders are impacted by priorities when diagnosing strategy, structure, process and
other changes concurrently and change environment culture when diagnosing
works successfully within that change including
context organisational, individual,
economic, cultural, social and
political forces
Accurately identifies potential Accurately identifies potential
sources of resistance and sources of resistance and
anticipate concerns anticipate concerns
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Competency Model – Summary of 3 Levels
Change Readiness Understands the meaning and Correctly assesses employees’ Correctly assesses employees’
importance of change readiness for the change, builds readiness for the change, builds
readiness and works with the change & communication the change & communication
Change Manager to ensure an plan and messages accordingly plan and messages accordingly
integrated approach to and conducts regular review and conducts regular review
impacted employees
Understands the tools, Understands the different Highlights highest areas of
methodology and models used considerations and elements of potential risk using insights from
in managing change readiness employees’ readiness for the readiness assessments
change and is able to conduct
the assessment and build the
change plans and key
messages accordingly
Works to minimise complexities, Works to minimise complexities,
contradictions and paradoxes or contradictions and paradoxes or
reduce their impact reduce their impact
Clarifies direction and smooths Unifies leadership support for
the process of change direction and smooths the
process of change
Uses the data gathered in Uses the data gathered in
change readiness and impact change readiness and impact
assessments to inform design, assessments to inform
planning and implementation stakeholder and governance
activities and priorities decisions on implementation
activities and priorities
Rewards effort to change
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Competency Model – Summary of 3 Levels
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Competency Model – Summary of 3 Levels
Behaviours Foundation
Project Roles Understands the various roles in the project team and can draw on their expertise where needed
Change Impact Tools Able to define a draft current state and future state for impacted stakeholders by referring to relevant
project sources and documents e.g. Business Requirements and Process Flow documents
Understands the role of changed business processes in the development of training requirements
Can read business process documentation and draw on it to inform the Impact Assessment
Impact Analysis Able to accurately define the term ‘Impact Analysis’ and understand the importance of its role in a
change project
Works with Change Manager to confirm all impacted stakeholders are identified
Can prepare a comprehensive Impact Analysis document, detailing impact by department, team
and individual
Confirms accuracy of Impact Analysis document details with impacted stakeholders and business
owners, making changes as required
Training Needs Uses the Impact Analysis to prepare a strategy document on training needs for all impacted
stakeholders
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Competency Model – Summary of 3 Levels
STRATEGIC THINKING The application of information on internal and external drivers for
(SPECIALIST AND MASTER) the change when scoping, planning and making decisions
Assess Readiness Regularly monitors organisational readiness for Regularly monitors organisational readiness for
change change
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Competency Model – Summary of 3 Levels
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Competency Model – Summary of 3 Levels
THINKING AND The application of logic and thinking processes to analyse situations and
JUDGEMENT problems so as to design effective solutions. The demonstration of the
capacity to reflect, analyse and develop workable frameworks and
plans
Research Can use quality research Uses a range of quality research Is able to access a wide range
methods to gain information methods to gather accurate of overt and covert information
required for the training and information about impacts and and data to inform the
communication components of relevant solutions approach and solutions
the change
Holistic Perspective Can maintain a holistic Can maintain a holistic Can maintain a holistic
perspective, ‘big picture’, rather perspective, ‘big picture’, rather perspective, ‘big picture’, rather
than only positional or functional than only positional or functional than only positional or functional
viewpoints viewpoints viewpoints
Acknowledges and allows for Acknowledges and allows for Considers broad potential
other changes impacting other changes impacting consequences of decisions
stakeholders stakeholders
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Competency Model – Summary of 3 Levels
Decision Making Makes timely decisions Makes timely decisions Makes timely decisions
Sets priorities based on Sets priorities based on Sets priorities based on
adequate information adequate information adequate information
Develops comprehensive Develops comprehensive Develops comprehensive
solutions and plans solutions and plans solutions and plans
Recognises own capability and Is neither premature nor Is neither premature nor
knows when to escalate an issue reluctant in reaching reluctant in reaching
conclusions conclusions
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Competency Model – Summary of 3 Levels
Professional Presence Convincingly displays a credible Convincingly displays a credible Convincingly displays a credible
presence and positive image presence and positive image presence and positive image
Develops other people’s Develops other people’s Develops other people’s
confidence in self through confidence in self through confidence in self through
consistent action, values and consistent action, values and consistent action, values and
communication communication communication
Networking Forms networks and relationships Forms networks and relationships Forms networks and relationships
of benefit to the team and of benefit to the team and of benefit to the team and
stakeholders organisation organisation
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Competency Model – Summary of 3 Levels
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Competency Model – Summary of 3 Levels
COACHING FOR CHANGE The preparation of managers and employees for change through
(SPECIALIST AND MASTER) coaching in managing change skills, and the building of
organisation capability for the future
Role Model Acts as a role model for others, Acts as a role model for leaders
shares knowledge and coaches and key influencers
others
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Competency Model – Summary of 3 Levels
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Competency Model – Summary of 3 Levels
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Competency Model – Summary of 3 Levels
Cost Management Works with Change Manager to Accurately estimates the costs Accurately estimates the costs
accurately estimate the costs incurred for change incurred for change
involved for change management activities management activities
management activities under
the responsibility of the Change
Management Analyst
Effectively sources, manages, Effectively sources, manages,
reports against and works to an reports against and works to an
agreed budget agreed budget
Risk and Opportunity Evaluates and balances risk Evaluates and balances risk
Management exposure in developing and exposure in developing and
implementing an approach implementing an approach
Identifies and quantifies Identifies and quantifies
potential risks, monitors and potential risks, monitors and
manages them throughout the manages them throughout the
project project
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Competency Model – Summary of 3 Levels
Review Project Outcomes Reviews and reports on Reviews and reports on Reviews and reports on
outcomes and success outcomes and success outcomes and success
measures measures (benefits) at end of measures (benefits) at end of
project project
Uses learning to enhance Uses learning to enhance Uses learning to enhance
effectiveness of future projects effectiveness of future projects effectiveness of future projects
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Competency Model – Summary of 3 Levels
Empathy Is attentive to cues (e.g. body Is attentive to cues (e.g. body Is attentive to cues (e.g. body
language), and responds language), and responds language), and responds
appropriately appropriately appropriately
Can relate to people and listen Demonstrates empathy, can Demonstrates empathy, can
effectively to their viewpoint relate to people and listen to relate to people and listen to
their viewpoint their viewpoint
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Competency Model – Summary of 3 Levels
Oral Communication Uses open questions and active Expresses ideas effectively in Expresses ideas effectively in
listening to ensure individual and group situations; individual and group situations;
individuals/situations are clearly adjusts language to the adjusts language to the
understood characteristics and needs of the characteristics and needs of the
audience audience
Uses open questions and active Uses open questions and active
listening to ensure listening to ensure
individuals/situations are clearly individuals/situations are clearly
understood understood
Written Communication Expresses ideas clearly in Expresses ideas clearly in Expresses ideas clearly in
documents which have documents which have documents which have
structure, grammar, language organisation, structure, organisation, structure,
terminology appropriate to the grammar, language and grammar, language and
needs of the audience terminology adjusted to the terminology adjusted to the
characteristics and needs of the characteristics and needs of the
audience audience
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Competency Model – Summary of 3 Levels
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Competency Model – Summary of 3 Levels
Prioritisation and Time Correctly prioritises multiple Able to ‘juggle’ the priorities of Able to ‘juggle’ the priorities of
Management activities so as to meet diverse multiple activities and multiple activities and
and sometimes conflicting stakeholders to meet diverse stakeholders to meet diverse
deadlines and sometimes conflicting and sometimes conflicting
deadlines deadlines
Can maintain clear focus on
goal achievement, confronting
problems, conflicts and
obstacles
Resilience Stays focused under pressure Stays focused under pressure Stays focused under pressure
Deals with setbacks and Deals with setbacks and Deals with setbacks and
bounces back from failure, bounces back from failure, bounces back from failure,
learns from experience and learns from experience and learns from experience and
adjusts behaviour where adjusts behaviour where adjusts behaviour where
necessary necessary necessary
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Competency Model – Summary of 3 Levels
Emotional Intelligence Understands the impact their Understands the impact their Understands the impact their
actions have on others and actions have on others and actions have on others and
adjusts approach where adjusts approach where adjusts approach where
necessary necessary necessary
Effectively identifies and Effectively identifies and Effectively identifies and
responds to emotions in others responds to emotions in others responds to emotions in others
Expresses emotion appropriately Expresses emotion appropriately
Considers people’s feelings
when making decisions
Conveys confidence when
sharing potentially confronting
observations and
recommendations
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Competency Model – Summary of 3 Levels
Participatory Able to create and sustain a Able to create and sustain a Able to create and sustain a
Environment participatory environment to participatory environment to participatory environment to
gain involvement/participation gain involvement/participation gain involvement/participation
of group members of group members of group members
Takes account of different styles Takes account of different styles
and provides opportunities for all and provides opportunities for all
group members to get involved group members to get involved
Takes a position of neutrality Takes a position of neutrality
regarding content to maximise regarding content to maximise
involvement, trust and openness involvement, trust and openness
Understands team development
and group dynamics and can
ensure an environment of two-
way expressive involvement
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Competency Model – Summary of 3 Levels
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Competency Model – Summary of 3 Levels
PROFESSIONAL A continuing effort to gain more knowledge, develop more effective skills
DEVELOPMENT and promote the profession of change management.
Skills Seeks feedback as input to Seeks feedback as input to Seeks feedback as input to
professional development plan professional development plan professional development plan
Focuses skill development on Focuses skill development on Focuses skill development on
under developed areas under developed areas under developed areas
Integrates new skills and seeks Integrates new skills and seeks
out opportunities to apply new out opportunities to apply new
skills skills
Finds opportunities to build new Finds opportunities to build new
skills through both formal and skills through both formal and
informal channels informal channels
Promotion of Change Is able to provide simple Is able to provide simple Is able to provide simple
Management explanations for the different explanations of the different explanations of the different
aspects of change aspects of change aspects of change
management in order to management to educate the management to educate the
educate others business community business community
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Competency Model – Summary of 3 Levels
Specialist Expertise: The design, preparation and roll out of training solutions for all impacted
Training stakeholder
(Foundation)
Behaviours Foundation
Needs Identification Liaises with subject matter experts ( e.g. Business Analyst(s), to confirm understanding of changes to
existing business processes
Draws on Business Requirements and Impact Assessment documents to prepare a strategy document
on high level training needs of all impacted stakeholder
Training Plan Makes recommendations for resource and budget requirements, depending on complexity of training
and number of individual stakeholder groups
Ensures change management project plan reflects all steps for the delivery of training
Solutions Testing Where there is an systems change involved, liaises with IT project team regarding outcomes and
process changes resulting from the solutions testing (where appropriate)
Uses information gained from solutions testing to finalise training material
Solutions Delivery Works with business owners and subject matter experts to ensure implementation plans are in place for
training rollouts to all impacted stakeholders
Monitors the rollout of training for all stakeholders, according to the project plan
Evaluation Ensures results of training are evaluated and provides reports and updates to Change Manager and
key stakeholders
Based on the evaluation, arranges for alterations to be made to existing training materials if required
Sustainability Ensures up to date training materials from the project are provided to stakeholders and relevant
departments e.g. Human Resources
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Competency Model – Summary of 3 Levels
Behaviours Foundation
Design and Draft Identifies existing communication channels in the organisation.
Where possible works with existing communications people and processes to provide a seamless
communication plan for impacted stakeholders
Works with the change manager to finalise stakeholder needs, communications plan and timetable
Implementation Monitors timetable and ensures all planned communications are sent
Identifies opportunities to address resistance through communication and liaises with change manager
Online Q&A Understands the value of a site to answer impacted stakeholder’s questions – especially in the event of
a major change
Prepares a Q&A site and communicates its purpose to stakeholders and project team members
Develops a list of subject matter experts and liaises with the appropriate person when answering
questions online
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Competency Model – Summary of 3 Levels
Specialist Expertise: The high level assessment of needs, approaches, design and
Learning & Development delivery methods for the implementation of solutions to meet
(Specialist & Master) business needs
Training Plan Works with business owners and subject matter Works with business owners and subject matter
experts to ensure appropriate training plans are in experts to ensure appropriate training plans are in
place for all stakeholders place for all stakeholders
Ensures change management project plan Ensures change management project plan
reflects all steps for the delivery of training and reflects all steps for the delivery of training and
transition to 'business as usual' transition to 'business as usual'
Solution Delivery Works with business owners to ensure Works with business owners to ensure
implementation plans are in place for training implementation plans are in place for training
rollouts to all impacted stakeholders rollouts to all impacted stakeholders
Monitors the rollout of training for all stakeholders, Monitors the rollout of training for all stakeholders,
according to the project management plan according to the project management plan
Evaluation Takes steps to evaluate effectiveness in the Takes steps to evaluate effectiveness in the
workplace workplace
Ensures results of training are evaluated and Ensures results of training are evaluated and
provides reports to project manager and other provides reports to project manager and other
stakeholders as required stakeholders as required
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Competency Model – Summary of 3 Levels
Specialist Expertise: The high level assessment of needs, approaches, design and delivery
Communication methods for the implementation of solutions to meet business needs
(Specialist & Master)
Plan Plans, documents and gains agreement to the Plans, documents and gains agreement to the
approach to communication approach to communication
Solution Design and Demonstrates an understanding of using the Demonstrates an understanding of using the
Development – appropriate communication style and media for appropriate communication style and media for
Communications the situation and audience. the situation and audience.
Strategies Works with key stakeholders to create most Works with key stakeholders to create most
appropriate communications appropriate communications
Solution Delivery Manages the process of requirements, design and Manages the process of requirements, design and
delivery of solution delivery of solution
Monitors the development and delivery of Monitors the development and delivery of
communication solutions and reports on progress communication solutions and reports on progress
to project manager to project manager
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