I have previously written about a method to help a PM incorporate change management techniques to manage change. It works even if there aren’t any specific skills or professional resources related to Change Management.
Today we will talk about the elements you can bring into Project Management and the tools and techniques I used when managing change/transformation projects. They can be used in project tasks and project documentation.
This diagram will give you an idea of the information flow for embedding CM in Project management activities. How can CM be used for defining the scope of a project?
To define the scope of a project in CM, we must identify two main elements: expectations and those who will be impacted by it. These elements are extremely detailed and are often part of a specific process (see Example).
CATWOE analysis was a tool that allowed me to incorporate CM scope elements in my transformational projects.
It is used to “prepare a thorough and comprehensive root definition, as a basis for solving problems with multiple perceptions”.
It seeks to determine the perception of different stakeholders regarding the change.
It will help you to identify the root cause and make a final decision that will drive the changes. (See Dmitriy’s post here).
CATOE is a tool that refines high-level requirements and ensures their fullness.
Project Charter/ PID/ SOW (amended copy of the original documents).
Stakeholders Analysis (adding an extended analysis – see point 3).
Risks Register: The risks/opportunities that we can gather from CATWOE analysis must be regrouped under the “Change management” category (see 4.1).
2. What can we do to improve the Requirements gathering phase
The requirements for a Change management project are based on the readiness assessment as well as an analysis of the impact on people and organizations. This information is used to determine how middle management perceives the change in their roles, within their department, and for their subordinates. The plan is based on the final assessment.
The benefits include the assessment of risks and information to tailor “communication plans”, training plans, coaching plans, and sponsorship activities.
The readiness assessment can be aligned from the perspective of PMs with the Analysis phase (Waterfall).
In my projects, it was strategic to add four paragraphs into an existing Requirements document content. This allowed the Functional Consultant or Business Analyst to raise specific questions and embed information about people and organizations into the project.
3. What information can be used for stakeholder management?
The discipline of change management focuses on other critical points like managing stakeholders’ resistance vs. engagement, awareness, and commitment.
To manage stakeholders and communicate with them, a Stakeholders Analysis is performed in implementation projects. The CATWOE analysis can give us valuable additional information that can be used to map and manage these points and use them for risk management. This information can be embedded in project management tasks and governance.
4.1 Check out how the Risk management Register changes with the new information
Requirements gathering (2) and stakeholders mapping (3), which can be easily adapted to include CM information, can allow Project Managers to identify and record new risks and opportunities.
Change Management Techniques in Project Management
