Applying Change Management Principles

in the Project Management

Adnan Waseem
 What is Change?
In business, change often feels constant. There are many type of
business change, including:

“The only constant is change...”

- Isaac Asimov
 Human Response to Change
There are natural human responses to change.

Although all people are

unique individuals, we tend
to have similar responses to
change.
In general, people don’t like
change.
What is Organizational Change Management?

Organizational Change Management (OCM) is the discipline or

practice of helping people adopt or accept change.

OCM helps transition individuals, teams, and

organizations from a current state to a desired
future state.
 What is Organizational Change Management?
(continued...)
OCM includes both the processes and tools for managing the
people side of the change.
Communication

Training

Process Organizational
Tools
Change
How does OCM fit into PM work?
 Every project/ program creates change
 System / Technology (tools we use)
 Process / Procedure (how we work)
 Policy / Documentation (what we follow)
 Skills / Role (who does what)

 YOUR role depends on your organization

 Lead/execute change efforts?
 Ensure change efforts are completed?
 Guide/encourage business to own change efforts?
 All of the above?
 Why is Effective OCM Important?
Effective OCM supports achievement of the project’s goals and
objectives.

Enables timely project implementation with

an engaged and readied workforce and
avoids negative interruption to the business.
What are common barriers to using
change management in practice?
 Perception that the change is not significant
 Perception that there is not enough time or resources
 Perception that traditional project meetings/routines
are adequate
 Lack of understanding and/or OCM skills on the
project team
 Lack of support by leadership
 Misunderstanding of who owns organization change
management among the project stakeholders
 Introduction
The
The Nature
Nature of
of Change
Change

Change in business is not new — it’s just

accelerating due to…
 New technology.
 Global competition.
 Growth & increased complexity.
 The result: Change or die
 Individual Prerequisites for Change to Occur

Why should I Thinking &

What’s in it for
Emotional/
change? understanding Motivational me?

Head Heart

Behavioral

Hands

What do I do differently?
 Change Management

The Effective Management of Change Involves An

Integrated Approach In Each Of These Three Arenas

Effective Change

Equals

Altering Harnessing Shaping

Mind-set Motivation Behavior
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Kurt Lewin’s Three-Step Change Process

Unfreezing Refreezing
Status Status
quo(1) quo(2)
Driving forces ↑ Equilibrium status
Restraining forces↓
Changing

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 Three Distinct Steps for Achieving
Behavioral and Attitudinal Change
 Unfreezing
 the diagnosis stage
 Participants are made aware of problems in order to
increase their willingness to change their behavior.

 Changing
 the intervention stage
 Individuals experiment with new workplace behavior.

 Re-freezing
 the reinforcement stage
 Individuals acquire a desired new skill or attitude and are
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rewarded for it by the organization.
Questions?