What to Look for in a Change Management Methodology
What's a change management methodology, and why is it useful? A methodology is a process or framework that ideally is repeatable across the organization.
Just like Lean/Six Sigma is a problem-solving, process improvement methodology, a change management methodology is a process that is applied to business changes to manage the human elements of a change.
A change management methodology is useful is because its application ensures that you are not taking a "hit or miss" approach where one project team does all the right things (and gets adoption and value realization) and another team misses key elements or steps. This is a way to reduce risk of failure or sub-optimization!
In addition, many change management methodologies include tools and templates that project teams can use.
People often ask us, "How does AIM (Accelerating Implementation Methodology) compare to other change management methodologies?
Simply put, AIM is more business-disciplined and business-focused than other methodologies. Because it is a systematic and systemic change management methodology driven by data, it appeals to business people, scientific professionals, IT professionals, and the HR/OD professionals who are typically assigned to managing the human side. It is very practical and its intent is to get changes of all levels of complexity implemented at speed-- and speed is a competitive advantage!
What about a "home-grown" change management methodology? Most are a hodge-podge of concepts that lack the cohesiveness of a best practice approach. They aren't focused on supporting the way the business actually operates and implements. And they are not generally data-driven.
Organizations have seen the value of standardization and consistency in the business to reduce costs and increase efficiencies; that's exactly what a best practice change management methodology like AIM delivers.
