Change Management

We orchestrate and implement highly successful communication strategies throughout an organisation in order to manage the change brought about by the implementation of new technologies.

 

Our approach to change in business is comprehensive and systematic.

 

Our change managers work to ensure that users are aware of how a new system will affect them as individuals as well as the benefits to the larger company.

 

A communications strategy will detail specific actions to be taken by senior business managers and system owners, as well as team members, and is designed to start communications within the project, but will be amended from time to time to reflect the progress of the project.

 

All communication activities and key messages are aligned to the business objectives, as well as supporting any change management initiatives designed to meet these objectives. Feedback from users and stakeholders play an important part in delivering effective, two-way communications, and is critical for addressing concerns by users.

 

For any employee or user of a new system, change often evolves a number of mental phases, understanding these stages enables change management to be more effective:

 

• Denial. Where we fight the change and protect status quo.
• Frustration and anger. When we realize that we cannot avoid the change and we become insecure because of lack of awareness.
• Negotiation and bargaining. Where we try to save what we can.
• Depression. When we realize that none of the old ways can be incorporated into the new.
• Acceptance. When we accept the change, and start to mentally prepare ourselves.
• Experimentation. Where we try to find new ways, and gradually remove the old barriers.
• Discovery and Delight. When we realize that the change will improve our future possibilities.
• Integration. Where we implement the change.

 

Experience

BI – Boehringer Ingleheim is a global research-driven company dedicated to researching, developing, manufacturing and marketing pharmaceuticals that improve health and quality of life.

 

Karen Jones assisted in the implementation of an enterprise wide document management system, which comprised of DocCompliance and Documentum technologies

 

To manage the change a communication strategy was developed which highlighted the following objectives:

 

• Start communications within the project
• Raise awareness of how the project contributed to business objectives
• Facilitate adoption by all users by generating buy-in
• Communicate key project milestones

 

A variety of methods were employed to meet these objectives, for stakeholders these included face to face meetings, quarterly status updates on achievements, and presentations by steering group/ project team members to leadership teams.  For users, methods included the development of guided tours to give a preview of the system, intranet news pages, road shows demonstrating the system prototype, on-line articles, newsletters, promotional materials, training and follow up workshops.