One of the biggest failures project managers experience when executing their projects stems from the lack of understanding of Organizational Change Management (OCM). Sadly, it’s true. When we see projects fail over and over, often we see problems in the same two areas:
- Project communications
- Organizational Change Management (OCM)
Would you agree?
Let me ask you a couple of Yes/No questions to make the point.
- Is there a formal OCM lead on your project today?
- Does your company have a formal OCM framework?
- Do your executives or leadership ask you about the impact your project is having on the people who are touched by proposed changes?
- Do you include OCM in your status meetings?
- Does your development or project management methodologies have OCM built into them?
Ok. Now let’s score one point for every question you answered Yes to and zero points for every question for which you said No.
What’s your total? Use this scoring table below to rate your company’s OCM score.
What was your score? Do you have work to do, or did you knock it out of the park? I have some guesses about how your company scored, but don’t worry, this is just between you and me. I won’t tell anyone!
I know the quiz was just for fun, but your result should get you thinking about the importance of OCM and the role it plays on projects. Obviously, the lower the score, the worse off your company is at doing OCM. You have to do something about that, or you will continue to struggle on your projects.
How does one resolve?
Well, there is no easy answer this, but if I could give you any advice, I would say follow these tips:
- Understand the different Organizational Change Management models. You don’t have to master them all, but knowing at least one or two of them helps you get going in the right direction.
- Know the OCM frameworks and follow them. Don’t wing this. You are impacting people’s lives with these changes, and it’s something that you have to take very seriously.
- Focus on the people first, and the process second. This is so important! The only way that you are going to be successful is when you get adoption from the people impacted by the changes you propose.
- Know that people accept changes at different rates and some people take a lot longer than others. Understand, embrace, and work with that fact to help everyone through the change!
- Obtain executive support. Before beginning any project, you need executive support for the changes the project will have on the people. Without executive support, you are never going to be a success, so don’t even try until you have this in place!
What do you think?
I hope these tips help. As PMOs and Project Managers, if we work together and continue to push the importance of Organizational Change Management, I think it will go a long way to delivering successful projects!
I’d like to hear from you. Comment below or watch my on-demand webinar, Organizational Change Management: What is the role of the PMO Manager?
