How to Start Managing Change When the Change is Unclear

Being involved early in a change is always a good thing. In fact, Prosci research shows a direct correlation between starting change management early and meeting or exceeding project objectives. Although engaging early can be a challenge when specific details are unclear or still emerging, waiting has consequences. Don’t let this dilemma make you feel stuck. You can add significant value when you start early, even with incomplete information. 

Consequences of Starting Change Management Late 

During times of extreme uncertainty, waiting to have complete information may feel like the best way to avoid rework, save costs, and keep employees well-informed. But waiting to implement change management activities later in the project lifecycle creates a new set of problems. The result can undermine project outcomes and your overall change management efforts.

Fortunately, Prosci research offers useful guidance you can apply immediately to keep your changes moving, no matter how incomplete the project information.

What To Do When
Incomplete Information Exists

Given a lack of information about a project solution and design, what can you realistically do at project initiation to move your project and people forward with an important change? Participants in Prosci’s Best Practices in Change Management benchmarking research shared several helpful approaches. These ideas remain valid today and are considered evergreen.

Top suggestions for actions include:

1. Create a communications plan to describe the desired results and need for change

Communicate details of the change openly and often to increase transparency and awareness of the change. Include desired results, the need for change, and current information gaps. Establish expectations for communication surrounding the change by designating structured channels.

2. Analyze the organizational climate, risks, and areas of resistance

Use systematic, measurable assessments to analyze the organizational climate and its reaction to change. Common measures include change impact analyses, change readiness assessments, organizational culture assessments, and change saturation assessments. Identify and document common or historical risks, areas of resistance, and pain points for both the organization and the project.

Percentage of Resistance Seen as Avoidable

3. Identify stakeholders and involve them in the solution design

Perform a stakeholder analysis to identify and categorize stakeholders according to the extent the change will affect them. Involve stakeholders and end users in the design of the solution, corresponding with their proximity to the change to encourage engagement.

4. Develop a flexible, high-level change management plan

Create a high-level change management plan that identifies deliverables from the change management function, timing of those deliverables, and required resources. Design this plan flexibly, allowing for adjustments according to future insights and information.

5. Coordinate change management and project management plans

Incorporate change management actions into project management plans from the beginning of the project to establish change management as a valuable component. Express the need for change management in a business case and document tangible benefits, return on investment (ROI), and statistics on change management success. Logically relate change management activities to the project plan and deliverables in the project schedule.

6. Identify and solicit support from sponsors of change

Identify change sponsors at the project’s initiation to identify and remedy resistance within leadership. Establishing support from change sponsors clearly and coherently guides the change in a manner consistent with the project’s goals and timeline.

7. Designate and educate a change management team

Designate members of a change management team and educate them fully on the change management methodology chosen for the project. The change management team should build a fundamental understanding of the process to be used across stakeholder groups by explaining the basic roles and steps of the methodology.

Clarity During Uncertain Times

Before joining Prosci, I led the change management practice at a large healthcare organization for eight years. After training, coaching and supporting many talented change practitioners, I know well the pressure to produce a change management plan with incomplete information. Over the years, I have shared the insights above more than any other research. It continues to help countless practitioners prepare and support people during change and uncertain times. I hope it helps you too.