Change Management

What is Change Management?

Change management has developed into a mature, proven discipline over the past 25 years. Prosci research shows that successful change depends on preparing, equipping, and supporting individuals as they move through change. When people adopt new ways of working, organizations achieve results—without adoption, change efforts fall short and desired outcomes are not realized.

01 More than just communications

Change management is often reduced to a basic communications plan—where leaders or project teams announce an upcoming change, often with limited notice. But effective change management goes far beyond communicating what is changing, whether it’s a system implementation, acquisition, or transformation initiative.

True change management focuses on supporting people as they transition from the current state to the future state. By understanding what individuals need to accept, adopt, and sustain change, organizations significantly increase the likelihood of project success and realize greater returns on their investments.

Effective change management focuses on the people side of change while helping organizations achieve measurable and sustainable business outcomes.

02 The need for a structured, flexible methodology

Organizations adopt change management in different ways based on their unique business priorities. Some apply it to critical initiatives, such as must-win technology implementations, while others invest in change management as an enterprise capability to support rapid growth. As a result, the scope and application of change management can vary widely from one organization to another.

This is why companies need a structured yet flexible approach to managing change—one that can adapt to different initiatives while remaining consistent enough to deliver reliable results.

Change Management at Two Levels

Project Level

Change Management at the Project Level

The application of a structured process and practical tools to guide the people side of change and achieve the intended outcomes of a specific project.

Organizational Level

Change Management at the Organizational Level

A leadership capability that enables effective change across the organization and builds strategic capacity to increase adaptability and responsiveness.

A structured and adaptable approach helps organizations move beyond individual initiatives and build the capability to successfully navigate continuous change.

What Is Organizational Change Management?

Organizational change management is the disciplined application of structured processes and practical tools to lead the people side of change and achieve desired business outcomes.

By applying organizational change management, organizations can maximize the people-dependent portion of a project’s return on investment (ROI)—the value created when employees adopt and effectively use new solutions.

To achieve ROI targets and sustain results, organizations can apply the Prosci Methodology, which integrates three core components: the Prosci Change Triangle (PCT) Model, the Prosci ADKAR® Model, and the Prosci 3-Phase Process.

01

Prosci Change Triangle (PCT) Model

ALIGNING THE CRITICAL ELEMENTS OF CHANGE
Prosci Change Triangle PCT Model

The Prosci Change Triangle (PCT) Model helps ensure that all critical elements of a change initiative are aligned and healthy.

Teams use the model to assess and strengthen four key areas: success, leadership and sponsorship, project management, and change management.

By evaluating these dimensions together, the PCT Model provides a structured way to improve overall project health and readiness for change.

A connected view of project success, leadership, project management and change management.
02

Prosci ADKAR® Model

GUIDING INDIVIDUALS THROUGH CHANGE
Prosci ADKAR Model

The Prosci ADKAR® Model focuses on individual change and explains the five building blocks required for successful adoption.

These building blocks are Awareness, Desire, Knowledge, Ability, and Reinforcement.

This model helps identify where individuals may be struggling during a transition and guides targeted support to help them move forward, enabling smoother and more sustainable adoption.

Individual success creates the foundation for successful organizational change.

Prosci 3-Phase Process

A structured and flexible process for preparing, managing and sustaining organizational change.

01

Prepare Approach

Define success, assess impact and establish the change management approach needed to position the change for success.

02

Manage Change

Plan and act, track performance and adapt actions to help individuals and the organization move through change.

03

Sustain Outcomes

Review performance, activate sustainment and transfer ownership to ensure the change is adopted and sustained.

Prosci 3-Phase Process

While change occurs at the individual level, leadership plays a critical role in success. Equipping leaders with the skills, tools, and information to actively sponsor change is essential for driving adoption and achieving lasting results.

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