A change management system is a system conceived and implemented to better facilitate change in a company or other organization. This can be devised by a change management firm or consultant, or by the group trying to implement the change within itself. There are a number of different systems, typically involving multiple steps toward a final goal, though many of these systems have common concepts with different names or multiple aspects to each step. A change management system is often recommended by change management firms and consultants, as it provides a group with a clear vision of how change will be achieved in the long run.
Change management is a field of study and professional work that seeks to help businesses and organizations better deal with major changes to industry and organization. For example, a company seeking to overhaul manufacturing methods to reduce carbon dioxide emissions might employ a change management firm to help the process proceed as smoothly as possible. A change management system might then be implemented to help employees within the company, from the lowest levels to the corporate executives, better understand the process of change and keep the process as simple as possible.
Since there are many different systems available, the change management system utilized by a company is often intended to work best for the people within the business and the type of change that is occurring. For a small business, a relatively simple model or system may work best, since overly complicated systems may only make the process more difficult. On the other hand, a large multinational corporation with thousands of employees would typically require a more elaborate system to ensure the process can occur as naturally as possible for everyone involved. This change management system could be designed and customized specifically for that company to increase the effectiveness of the system.
A change management system will typically involve three or four basic steps for the facilitation of change. The first step is usually planning, which covers the process of understanding what change needs to occur and attempting to create a system in which it can do so. After that, there is usually an evaluation of the system that has been devised and the methods that are going to be employed. Once the system is evaluated, it can then be implemented to actually create change within the organization.
This can then be followed by another period of re-evaluation and planning for more changes or better adjusting to those changes that have been made. The fourth step in this type of change management system is not always necessary, though it often ensures that the model has been executed properly and that change has been implemented effectively. These three or four steps can be achieved through a number of different methods, which often break them down into further steps that are more precise and tailored to a specific organization.
