WHAT IS CHANGE MANAGEMENT?
When it comes to understanding Change Management, the two most common questions that come up are –
How does it differ from Project Management?
When is Change Management necessary?
HOW DOES IT DIFFER FROM PROJECT MANAGEMENT?
Project management and change management, though closely related, serve distinct purposes within an organization. Project management focuses on the planning, execution, and completion of specific projects, ensuring that objectives are met on time and within budget. It involves coordinating resources, managing timelines, and delivering defined outputs. In contrast, change management is concerned with guiding individuals, teams, and organizations through transitions to achieve a desired future state. It emphasizes addressing the human side of change, fostering adoption, and minimizing resistance. While project management deals with tasks and deliverables, change management focuses on preparing, equipping, and supporting people to successfully navigate changes.
When is Change Management necessary?
Change Management is necessary whenever your organization is going through a change due to the introduction of a change catalyst. A change catalyst is anything that will force your organization to move from its current state of operations to a new, future state of operations. Example of change catalyst include –
New system implementation
New hardware or tool installation
New program introduction
Outsourcing / offshoring
Reorganization due to mergers / layoffs
Change Management is used to help your organization successfully navigate through the transition phase from current to future states. Proper change management will help reduce the time of transition and conflicts that naturally arise from the change.
