Change Management Checklists: Organization Design

Back when I was part of the Human Performance team at Accenture, getting an Org. Design role was the holy grail of Change Management projects.  This was largely because they were rare.  And they were rare because many companies simply don't want to tackle this messy topic while going through an already difficult change.  I would argue, however, that Org. Design is part of ensuring that the change sticks.

Instead of detailing here a checklist of top 10 Org. Design activities, for the last Pillar of Change I'm going to list instead 10 questions you should ask yourself about Org. Design when your company is undergoing a change.

Top Ten Organization Design Questions

• Do I have the right number of people to perform the work after the change is implemented?
• Do my people have the right skills to work in the new world?
• If not, can I upskill them?
• If they can't be upskilled, can I move them into a different role in the organization, or do they need to be moved out of the organization?
• Do the current job descriptions need to be revised based on new job and role responsibilities?
• Do we need to do a remuneration review to ensure compensation is still appropriate for new responsibilities?
• Does the overall organization structure still make sense?
• Do the new and/or existing teams need to change the way they interact?
• Does the reporting structure support the change?
• Have you reviewed the positions you are currently hiring for to ensure they are still required/appropriate in the new world?

Let me know: Does your organization address Org. Design as part of Change Management?

Change Management Checklists: Training

Training is a huge topic.  It encompasses training analysis, training development, training delivery, training evaluation, and infinite variations on those topics.  Narrowing this down to 10 major activities is difficult, but I think I'm up to the challenge.

Training Activities

• Collaborate with the corporate Learning & Development department (if your organization has one)
• If you think something is self explanatory and doesn't require training, think again.  Never assume that people will be able to "figure it out."
• Conduct a training needs analysis
• Remember that training comes in many shapes and forms.  The best approach to training is often blended learning.  Learn it, love it, use it.
• Create a training curriculum
• Training development takes a lot of time.  A LOT.  In the words of scuba divers everywhere, "Plan the dive.  Dive the plan."
• Develop the training
• Deliver the training
• Create a sustainable training plan that will allow you to deliver training on an ongoing basis to people who may have missed the initial training (e.g., people on vacation or maternity leave, new hires) or who need an occasional reminder
• Evaluate the training...and improve it, as appropriate

Let me know: What are the main activities you consider when planning a training program?

Change Management Checklists: Communication

You could write an entire blog dedicated to communication (in fact, I believe there may be one or two out there).  I'm going to try to condense all of that information into my top 10 communication activities. Read on...

Communication Activities

• Collaborate with the Corporate Communications department (if your organization has one)
• Conduct a vehicle analysis
• Conduct an audience analysis
• Determine the review process for various types of communications and vehicles
• Create a detailed communication plan
• Write communications - keep them short, simple, and relevant
• Spell check, grammar check, and have someone else do a second review
• Develop and monitor feedback channels - remember...communication is a two-way activity!
• Update your communication plan based on feedback you receive
• When you think you've communicated enough, communicate more

Let me know: What is the most effective communication you have ever received at work?

Change Management Checklists: Stakeholder Management

I'll get right to it.

Stakeholder Management Activities

• Conduct a Stakeholder Analysis
• Develop a checklist of behaviors stakeholders should demonstrate by the end of each project phase
• Identify how far along the change curve you want each stakeholder group to be at specific points throughout the project
• Create a Stakeholder Management plan
• Conduct a Change Impact Assessment
• Create a plan to involve stakeholders in the project
• Remember that project team members are stakeholders, too
• Prepare to help stakeholders through the inevitable performance dip that accompanies a change
• Work with Human Resources and your organization's leadership to identify ways to motivate your stakeholders to adopt the change
• Celebrate every time a stakeholder group successfully adopts the change

Let me know: Do you agree with this list?  What else would you add?