AFI Reports Analysis is Key

With Increased Demand for Change Managers

November 12, 2010 - Calgary, AB. - The demand for change managers is on the increase in Canada. Case in point, Jane Hein, Managing Director S.i. Systems Calgary, indicates her company experienced a 40 percent increase in the number of opportunities they were asked to fill this past year, with a majority of the demand stemming from the Calgary market.

This increase in demand for this profession is not without its challenges. First, there is a lack of understanding of what change management is and how it can be implemented. Most companies start out by focusing on training and communication plans. Few recognize the need for the right type of upfront analysis to determine the impact of a change.

“Change management is a critical discipline that should be utilized to affect any kind of change in an organization. No matter how big or small a change is, change management advisors know how to identify and tailor the right mix of activities and deliverables to improve the likelihood the change is adopted and sustained. It ensures intended business results actually take root,” says Cathy McIsaac, Agility Factor Inc. (AFI) Managing Partner.

Another challenge facing the profession is related to the fact that change management is a different discipline than project management. The first focuses on making changes sustainable while the latter focuses on the tasks and plan to build the pieces of what’s changing. In a previous article (link) we discussed the potential for doubling the success rate of projects by involving Change Managers. The critical success factor required to see this type of improvement is directly related to how well project sponsors understand the role of the Change Manager, what to expect of one, and how to leverage their expertise within project teams.

“Engaging Change Managers initially creates challenges for organizations new to change management methods. They ask the hard questions. They make project sponsors and project teams think differently about the organization they are delivering to. They take special care to involve all the right people early in the process so opinions can be heard, considered, and responded to” says Tanya Stevenson, AFI Service Delivery Lead. Involving a Change Manager means more people are involved, more of the right work gets done at the right time, and the potential for success is greatly improved.

Increased demand for Change Managers is the direct result of a need for the effective adoption of sustainable change. Most industries are facing tougher regulations, stricter reporting standards and a faster pace of change. With effective upfront change assessments and leveraged involvement of Change Managers the AFI management team says there are no surprises for an organization’s people involved with and affected by change.

AFI is a consulting firm based in Calgary, Alberta. Specializing in organizational change management, AFI consultants are Prosci ADKAR certified change management professionals. We help leaders make distinct, lasting and significant improvements to the performance of their organizations.

For more information or to request an interview::

Janice Andersson
Associate, Communications, Agility Factor Inc.
info@agilityfactor.net
403.270.3342