Read about three very different organizations and how they effectively manage change in the Three Examples of Successful Change Management Practices article. Reflect on why you believe their strategies worked. Consider organization type, size, and complexity in your answer. Identify at least three issues each organization avoided by creating and following a change management process. Be creative, but back up your answers!

You may want to consult the two recommended Change Management articles from Prosci: What is Change Management? and Managing Resistance to Change located in this module as you develop your answer.

British Airways

Back in 1981, British Airways brought on board a new chairperson. When this chairperson started, he noticed that the company was very inefficient and was wasting a lot of valuable resources. To make the organization more profitable, this chairperson decided to restructure the entire organization. He realized that the best way to do this was through a change methodology management plan.

Systematically, the company began reducing its workforce. But, before this was done, through his change management leadership, the chairman gave the company the reasons for the restructuring and privatization of the company in order to prepare them for the upcoming change. Thus, through leadership and communication, he directed his company through a difficult time that could have been disastrous without effective change management resistance communication.

California State University

While the 1980s may seem like a long time ago, a more recent example can be found at California State University (CSU). Any IT system change that happens at the main campus has to go through every satellite campus, meaning those 23 campuses and thousands of employees, staff, and students

must adapt their IT systems as well. Dealing with change at a smaller organization can be a nightmare by itself; its worse at a larger organization like CSU.

But, instead of merely throwing their hands up in disgust, the IT department decided to institute an automated change management system. Using Ciscos Pace functionality, the company can now make upgrades that will automatically make changes to the entire system. To make their change management strategy even more effective, they are now defining who can use what system and what changes they can make to their designated area. Their change management strategy considered the human factor and not only included the automated system, but also defined roles of change so that it would minimize the confusion and issues when a change has to be instituted.

A Hometown Church

Finally, you dont have to be a big organization to have a change management plan. Take a recent blog post by KM Jeff. Jeffs church was building a new sanctuary. So, since it was the congregation that was going to be paying for the sanctuary, the church created a steering committee of members of the congregation. Members were invited to participate and give feedback during each step of construction. They were made to feel a part of the process so that they would embrace the change.

In inviting their members to get involved, the church decreased any negative feelings toward the sanctuary or grumblings from members that they werent involved in the process. Getting everyone committed to the process is a key way to ensure that your change management strategy will be a success.

Keep these examples of successful change management in mind when its time to write your change management plan.