Technology Projects: Change Management

When conducting a health check or a lookback on a technology project, it's important to assess the change management aspects of the project. Change management is crucial in ensuring that the organization and its stakeholders effectively adapt to the new technology and embrace the required changes. As a a PROSCI certified Change Management Specialist, I cannot underscore enough the importance of Change Management.  Personally, I would put Change Management on par with Governance as one of the Top 3 most important dimensions of any project. Here are some key change management questions to ask:

1. Change Readiness:

• How was the organization's readiness for change assessed before implementing the technology project?
• Were there any cultural or organizational barriers that hindered the adoption of the new technology?
• Were the affected stakeholders adequately prepared for the upcoming changes?

2. Stakeholder Engagement:

• How were the project's stakeholders identified, and were they engaged effectively throughout the change process?
• Were their concerns, expectations, and feedback adequately addressed?
• Were there any key stakeholders who resisted or lacked support for the project, and if so, why?

3. Communication:

• How was communication about the project and its impact managed?
• Was there a clear and consistent communication plan in place to inform stakeholders about the changes?
• Did the communication channels and messages effectively reach the intended audience?

4. Change Impact Assessment:

• How was the impact of the technology project on the organization and its processes assessed?
• Were there any unforeseen consequences or negative impacts that were not adequately addressed?
• Were the risks associated with the changes properly identified and managed?

5. Training and Education:

• Were the necessary training and educational resources provided to stakeholders to ensure their competency with the new technology?
• Did the training programs effectively address the needs of different user groups?
• Were there any gaps in training that hindered user adoption and proficiency?

6. Change Implementation:

• How was the implementation of the new technology managed?
• Were there any challenges or issues encountered during the implementation phase?
• Were the required resources and support provided to facilitate a smooth transition?

7. User Adoption and Support:

• How was user adoption of the new technology tracked and measured?
• Were there any factors that hindered user acceptance and adoption?
• Was there adequate post-implementation support provided to address user concerns and issues?

8. Continuous Improvement:

• Were there mechanisms in place to capture feedback and lessons learned throughout the change process?
• Were the lessons learned from the failed project properly documented and shared for future improvement?
• What steps have been taken to ensure continuous improvement in change management practices?