Blog

Articles

• January

  31
  2019
  

  Making the most of the digital turn with Change Management (I)

  The process of digitalization has caused massive disruptions, presenting major challenges for organizations the world over, but has also opened new exciting avenues for those who can surf the wave. This is a revolution in itself, one that has spurred the creation of new business models and scenarios, challenging longstanding players in every industry. Uber and Airbnb … are just a few outstanding examples of entities that made their way to the top without owning tangible assets (cars and accommodation respectively). The once acclaimed “blue ocean strategy” is now being questioned as selling high-priced, high-value products - or conversely, cheaper products relying on a limited service - has proved insufficient to stay ahead of the game. Smaller and highly reactive players have gained the upper hand over their competitors by making the most of the digital turn. Think of an idea today, turn to crowd funding tomorrow and smart ...

  Written by
  Antoine WOUTERS

• January

  14
  2019
  

  Auditing CM Maturity: 5 Capability Areas

  You may already be familiar with the PROSCI’s CM maturity audit model. Perhaps you have hands-on experience working with its five-levels rating tool. If you want to dig down a little deeper, here are the five capability areas that underlie the model and must be factored in to determine the “maturity” of an organisation. 1. Leadership. The leadership capability area includes all activities specifically led by senior leaders and aimed at developing Change Management aptitudes and skills. However, it is not just a generic description of what leadership and sponsorship involve. This ability area focuses on (1) leadership involvement and (2) any activities or messages that stress the importance and value of CM, as well as on (3) what is done to build organizational competencies. Typical questions to ask are: who is sponsoring the implementation of Change Management methods and tools; how do sponsors express their support? If ...

  Written by
  Vincent PIEDBOEUF

• December

  10
  2018
  

  When it’s time to change: managers, drivers of flexibility.

  In a state of constant flux, organizations cannot but note how their capacity to support their employees and help them evolve is becoming a key factor to success, if not to survival. Although most recent organizational models (shared leadership, freedom-form company) are prompting us to rethink the missions and even the very raison d’être of middle-management, the (proximity) manager is ideally placed to support his team members in the most efficient way. PROSCI’s research shows that for 67% of all collaborators, the voice of the direct manager has the most impact with respect to everything that concerns their everyday life and working environment. In a sense, managers help make any organizational change or evolution successful while also bringing about systemic changes for the people involved. This role, often undermined by organizational optimizations, is therefore somehow restored. Simply put, it implies supporting the continued development of the team(s). It is thus clear ...

  Written by
  Rémy Texier

• November

  27
  2018
  

  Communicating change: Don’t rush it!

  Automation of communication enables communication departments to reach out to multiple communities instantaneously. However, this creates an environment conducive to “pulling the trigger” too fast, too often. While a plethora of tools and platforms have been emerging in the last 10 years, none of them can perform the most important task facing you - that is to say, to take the time to think it through. Just you, your coffee and a set of basic questions in front of you. Creating change is a long-term endeavour that must be backed up by a robust communication strategy. As change happens one person at a time, it is of utmost importance to get everyone on board and aligned with the vision. The ultimate goal is to maximize adoption and utilization. Before you start crafting the “story of change”, make sure it is built on solid ground and, most of all, know ...

  Written by
  Connie Reber

• November

  06
  2018
  

  Change Management: Process and Relationships

  In an age of fast-paced changes, reactivity and flexibility are survival skills. As competition intensifies on international markets, organizations are urged to improve their working processes to keep clients satisfied and stay in the game. Parallel to that, automation and artificial intelligence are quickly transforming the labor market, which makes soft skills (empathy, self-confidence, EQ, creativity, communication, leadership, …) even more essential[1]. It is therefore not surprising to hear a lot of talk about process management and relationships. But because it creates a disconnect between these two otherwise interrelated issues, the discussion is inherently flawed. We argue that most problems arising within an organization usually stem from a mix of process and relationship deficiencies.   Process or relationships? Thriving in a hypercompetitive environment depends on both reducing costs and providing excellent service that can make you shine with your customers. Any organization can be understood as a ...

  Written by
  Philippe Bourgeois

• October

  29
  2018
  

  "How to": Demonstrating CM effectiveness.

  Like any CM practitioner (or advocate), you will increasingly be faced with the challenge of providing hard numbers (or facts) to prove CM effectiveness.  Fear not, as advances in the field have made the task much easier to handle. Remember that your scoreboard should include performance variables at the organizational, individual and CM levels. Here is everything you need to implement a robust measurement strategy[1]. Five main criteria categories. Before we dive into the nuts and bolts of performance measurement at each level, keep in mind that there are roughly five types of criteria commonly used to assess change effectiveness[2]. Adoption metrics focus on how employees adhere to the change, that is to say, the percentage of user adoption and proficiency in new processes. Qualitative/feedback metrics relate to the perceived effectiveness of change among employees and end users alike, as collected through multiple channels or formats: surveys, informal feedback, clients’ satisfaction reports. Employee ...

  Written by
  Vincent Piedboeuf

• October

  09
  2018
  

  Change Management: Latest Trends in Change Management (II)

  The first part of this series looked into what has happened on the CM front over the last two years. But no trends report is ever fully complete without a prospective view. This new instalment further explores the findings of the latest PROSCI survey on state-of-the-art practices[1]. From what respondents expect to happen in the next five years to whether and how to join the bandwagon, we trace the moving contours of the discipline in simple and practical terms[2]. So, plan for the future accordingly! *PROSCI’s survey focused on what developments practitioners anticipate or expect to intensify in the next five years. Each trend is summarised with cross references to articles previously published by NEXUM for further reading guidance. 1.   Continued alignment with other “improvement” methodologies. These last years have witnessed a more wide-ranging application of CM, with a particular emphasis on AGILE projects. Alignment with other methodologies such ...

  Written by
  Vincent Piedboeuf

• September

  17
  2018
  

  Latest Trends in Change Management

  Curious to know more about the latest trends in Change Management? Drawing upon the experience of more than 1000 CM practitioners, PROSCI’s latest[1] report offers the most accurate picture of what has happened in the field over the last two years … and what its avant-garde looks like. We have extracted lessons learnt and emerging trends[2]. Taking a retrospective look before diving into how professionals foresee the future, this series of two articles is packed with actionable insights. Nothing can come in handier to build and maintain a competitive edge. So, get prepared for a successful ride! *PROSCI’s survey focused on most noticeable trends reported by respondents as they reflect on the past two years. Each trend is summarised with cross references to articles previously published by NEXUM for further reading guidance. 1.    Better understanding of the value of CM and growing credibility.  It is an undeniable fact that ...

  Written by
  Vincent Piedboeuf

• September

  03
  2018
  

  The 7 keys to making your change a success

  Success is no accident. Even less so when it comes to dealing with change in uncertain times. With a healthy dose of Change Management, you can make the most of your transformational efforts and stay ahead of the game. And best of all, it can boost your chances of meeting your objectives on time and on budget by up to 6 times. No matter how big and daunting the task, we have your back covered. The 2018 benchmark report from our partner PROSCI incorporates the latest advances in CM research[1]. Here are, in a nutshell, the 7 keys – or top contributors - to making your change effective and long-lasting.   Top contributor #1: active and visible sponsorship.   Senior leaders must take the driver’s seat and lead by example. The biggest issue with this number one rule is that designated sponsors too often fail to understand what specific actions their role entails. The ABC ...

  Written by
  Vincent Piedboeuf