The 5 Steps in Change Management – And How We Can Facilitate Them

Research suggests that in the SMME (small, medium, and microenterprise) sector in South Africa, our country sees some of the highest global failure rates. Furthermore, an estimated five out of seven companies close their doors within their first year alone. One reason why so many organisations get stuck in a rut is that they cannot handle change and challenges thrown at them, and management of these changes is neglected. At Orgro, we can help you implement solutions that promote growth and stability, even during uncertain times.

Changes Within Organisations

The world keeps turning, and companies that insist upon using the same old methods they did decades ago will eventually fail. Keeping up with the fast pace of our local and global market means implementing strong change management solutions to navigate necessary transitions as they come up.

Common changes seen by most businesses include:

• Redesigning internal structures within a company as it grows.
• Human capital management strategies that need revisiting.
• Competing with strong rival companies in a saturated market.
• New technologies that may present a threat to the company or untrained staff.
• Upskilling and retraining employees as needed.
• Adapting to a shift in laws and regulations that pertain to the company or its products and services.

Planning for, and coordinating, projects that address the normal transitional phases every organisation must go through is imperative to successful outcomes. Whether the changes are adaptive and gradually evolve, or whether they are transformational and at a large scale, they cannot be ignored. Change management happens in five, critical steps, and we at Orgro can assist with each one.

Change Management happens in 5 critical steps:

Step 1: Defining the “Why”

Logistical and cultural preparation is key when any changes are addressed. This process involves everyone, from staff to exco. It means taking stock of why transformation is needed and taking into account the nuances and complexities of the situation. What is at stake and the impact of any changes are also critical considerations.

Step 2: Developing a Realistic Plan

An organisation ready to embrace change while being prepared for what it may entail, can begin creating a vision and detailed plan for successful change management. This plan must contain strategies for reaching goals, estimating available resources, ways to measure success, and establishing the scope of the project.

Step 3: The Implementation Phase

With clarity and a strategic plan in place, all involved can begin to follow the steps laid out. Teamwork, agility, and flexibility are needed here, and it can be one of the most difficult phases with which to follow through. Unforeseen difficulties may arise here, and it is important to meet them head-on.

Step 4: Anchoring the Changes

Making it through the implementation and finding that employees are receptive to the changes is a good sign. Embedding the new changes into the organisation’s culture and practices means reverting to old ways is not as easy.

Step 5: Evaluating the Results

Reviewing the progress made and change management that took place is a way to assess whether the project failed or worked well, and what adaptations to make in future attempts at change management.

We at Orgro will assist you with an action-research approach to change management that will give your organisation the best possible shot at prosperous transformation. For more information, contact us today.

Contact Us Today