Page 9 - EngineerIT June 2022

OPINION

organisation. Change Management – by employees, supervisors and managers resisting the changes
not so much! Traditional Project The Borg are imposed on them.
Management approaches often an alien group that appear The wounds could be in the form of a decline in
do not account for essential productivity, point-blank resistance to change,
elements like effective as recurring antagonists in and even a possible loss of valued employees.
communication, the Star Trek fictional universe. The Borg So; when we stand at ceremony to lay to rest
sponsorship, coaching, are cybernetic organisms (cyborgs) linked our beloved systems implementation, we
training and resistance in a hive mind called “the Collective”. The Borg cannot help but think that this death was
management. co-opt the technology and knowledge of other so unnecessary. We could so easily have
It is only when we prevented this tragedy – if only we had acted
successfully integrate alien species to the Collective through the process early.
Change Management of “assimilation”: forcibly transforming individual Having said that – with all the prior
disciplines into our beings into “drones” by injecting nanoprobes into hyperbole added merely for emphasis – it is
Project Management their bodies and surgically augmenting important to add that Change Management
activities that we them with cybernetic components. The can add value even at a late stage in the project.
help the people in the Borg’s ultimate goal is “achieving Obviously, the earlier you start with Change
organisation to “understand, Management, the greater the chances of success.
internalise and support a change perfection” (Wikipedia)
throughout the project’s lifecycle”. My Advice…
“Research shows that the earlier Develop an assimilated strategy where both Project Management
Change Management is started on a and Change Management strategies can be managed in the optimal sequence, to ensure
project or initiative, the more likely the that the users, their teams, the organisation and its executives, and customers can derive
project is to meet or exceed objectives.” maximum benefit in as short a time as possible.
“… when Change Management is You would need a good understanding of the Project Management processes and
started at the beginning of a project, the the Change Management process. Then begin to merge the stages and steps to create a
activities can be fully integrated.” hybrid process that works for your team and your customers. Good luck.
The calamitous reality is that Change It might not be an easy or enviable task, but it will not do itself. To quote the great
Management is too often slapped on in body-builder, Ronnie Coleman, just before attempting to lift 800 pounds with his legs:
an attempt to cauterise the wounds on “Ain’t nothing to it, but to do it”.
an already injured and dying project. You might instinctively resist the call to exert all this effort, but might I remind you
These wounds are most often inflicted that “Resistance is futile!”. n

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EngineerIT | June 2022 | 7