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Glossary

Change management

What is change management?

Change management is a structured approach to transitioning individuals, teams, and organizations from a current state to a desired future state. Whether it's adopting new technology, restructuring teams, or shifting company culture, change management helps ensure these transitions happen smoothly and successfully.

In today's fast-paced business environment, change is constant. Organizations that can manage change effectively are better equipped to stay competitive, adapt to market demands, and achieve long-term success. But what exactly is change management, and why is it so critical?

Defining change management

At its core, change management is the discipline that guides how we prepare, support, and help individuals and organizations embrace change. It involves tools, processes, and strategies to manage the people side of change to achieve desired business outcomes.

There are two main aspects of change management:

  • Organizational change management: Focuses on the broader business impact, ensuring the organization moves through the change in a coordinated and effective way.

  • Individual change management: Helps each person within the organization understand, accept, and adopt the change.

Why is change management important?

Without a clear change management strategy, even the best business ideas can fail. People naturally resist change—especially when it impacts how they work. A strong change management process helps minimize resistance, increase engagement, and accelerate adoption.

Here’s why change management matters:

  • Reduces disruption and confusion
  • Improves communication and transparency
  • Increases employee buy-in and participation
  • Ensures faster, more effective implementation
  • Boosts the likelihood of achieving business goals

Key components of a change management process

  1. Preparing for change:
    This stage involves assessing readiness, defining the change, and building a strategy. Leadership alignment and stakeholder analysis are critical at this point.

  2. Managing the change:
    This includes developing plans for communication, training, and support. The goal is to engage employees and equip them with what they need to make the transition.

  3. Reinforcing the change:
    Once the change is implemented, it’s important to sustain it. Feedback, performance tracking, and recognition help embed the change into the organization’s culture.

Navigate change more effectively (and efficiently)

Change is inevitable—but chaos doesn’t have to be. With the right change management approach, organizations can navigate transitions more effectively and build a resilient culture ready for the future.

Whether you're planning a small internal process shift or a large-scale digital transformation, investing in change management is essential to success.