Change Management

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Analysis of Change Tools and Techniques in the Current Economic Climate

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Table of Contents

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The Current Economic Crisis and its Impact on Change Programmes

We live in a moment of history where change is so speeded up that we begin to see the present only when it is already disappearing. - R. D. Laing

While it is a fact that we live in an era where transformation is common and fueled by global competition and a fast-paced business environment, the challenge companies face amidst the current economic crisis are different.

Figure 1: Process-data model for the change manage...

Change Management process ITIL

Figure 1

Companies all over the world are being forced to examine fault-lines in their business under the pressure of sharply reduced demand, the failure of suppliers and partners, limited access to finance, downward pressure on prices, and other consequences of the downturn - hence leaving them no choice but to attempt fundamental changes in their processes, systems, structures and behaviors not only to prosper but also to merely survive.

According to a survey conducted in July-August 2009 by the Economist Intelligence Unit for over 500 companies in the United States and Europe, over 59% of the respondents said that the crisis had revealed shortcomings in their organization that they are attempting to address. (The Economist, 2009) While some firms find this an unfavorable environment to implement changes for the fear of subjecting the organization to greater strain, for most others it is an ideal opportunity to implement change efforts in...