Change Management Models - Do They Help And If So How?

The people aspects of change is the overwhelmingtransitional model. In my opinion it is William Bridges -
issuewho recognises that it is people who have to carry
Change management models have clearly evolvedout change and with his clear emphasis and
from the days of Kurt Lewin's freeze phases modelunderstanding of what change does to employees
which was very much a product and reflection of the[and what they do to the organisation] - who really
industrial age - with the emphasis on commandwas the first "management guru" to provide any real
control imposed from the top down.sense of the emotional impact of change and what
Similarly, even Michael Hammer ["Re-engineering thecan be done to keep it from disrupting the entire
Corporation"] - the arch proponent of the process ledorganization.
approach to change and business improvement -Any change management models theories or
revised his opinion: "I don't regret saying anything; it'sconcepts that directly address the people issues, has
more what I left out. In particular, the human side isparticular resonance and practical relevance in the
much harder than the technology side and hardercurrent climate and adds values to our understanding
than the process side. It's the overwhelming issue."of strategies for managing change.
Psychological impacts of change and managing theThe programme management based model
transitionsIn my view the programme management based
Since Kubler Ross, the concept of an emotionalmodel addresses all of these critical areas by focusing
journey through a recognisable path of reactions andon a holistic approach that takes full account of the
responses has been recognised and factored in to allpeople issues.
modern models of change management. WilliamSo, the programme processes of establishing a
Bridges has taken this a stage further with his modelblueprint of the changed organisation, with clearly
that focuses on transitions and the psychologicaldefined benefits of change and thorough attention to
impacts of organisational change and that speaks ofthe stakeholder mapping and analysis will facilitate the
developing a culture that embraces change.creation of detailed communication strategy that
Clearly people react at different paces and levels toaddresses key stakeholder concerns.
change and whatever change model is adopted, thisFor more on this: " Change management models "
needs to be given serious attention.Equip yourself to avoid the 70% failure rate of all
Many of the more recent change managementchange initiatives with the "Practitioners' Masterclass -
models place great emphasis on the need forLeading your people through change, putting it all
determining the need for change, articulating thetogether and managing the whole messy business.
desired future and the use of some form of