Leading Change Management

This paper argues that in order to leverage change and its results well, it is essential to manage change proactively and on an ongoing basis. The paper states that:

• The causes of change include globalization, developments in technology, the increasing scope of the internet and climate changes;
• The resultant threat to the future of an organization makes close management of the evolution of business imperative;
• Leading change management approaches focus on developing change as a positive force, improving the functioning of the organization and the contributions of its employees.

The paper details:

• Strategies and tools that manage change in the organization;
• The challenges that managers face;
• The ways in which effective managers use change as a means to address other challenges within the organization.

The paper:

• Studies different change management approaches.
• Proposes an approach consisting of five stages using the acronym SPICE- Strategic Visioning, Positioning, Implementing, Consolidation/Closure and Emotions to describe the overall change management.
• Explains the stages as follows:
  • Strategic Visioning recognizing the need for change and designing the purpose and scope of the initiative;
  • Positioning preparing the organization to do something about what threatens its future;
  • Implementing changing efforts through action and mobilizing support;
  • Consolidating or obtaining closure of the change management effort through completion of the cycle and communication, re-appraisal and refining the changes;
  • Emotions paying attention to the emotions of the employees.