Organizational Change Management (OCM) is an often neglected Business Process Management component. Processes need to be adopted to provide value, and OCM can significantly impact how the enterprise accepts changes or improvements to business processes.
In today's ever-changing business environment, companies must be agile and adaptable, including their business processes. The markets we operate in are in constant flux, and businesses need to be able to keep up with the pace of change efficiently and effectively.
Business Process Management provides a crucial advantage to organizations, allowing them to meet evolving business needs with agility and efficiency, implementing process changes swiftly and effectively.
Resistance to change is a common hurdle that organizations face when implementing, improving or transforming their processes. However, with the help of Organizational Change Management, businesses can overcome this challenge and ensure that everyone is aligned towards the same goal.
Organizational Change Management
Organizational Change Management (OCM) comprises various practices and strategies that aid organizations in preparing for and executing modifications. This involves fostering acceptance and backing for the change, developing and implementing a plan, and maintaining the change after implementation.
Introducing new processes or reengineering existing ones can cause a sense of unease within a company. It's a well-known fact that people are resistant to change, and since we spend the majority of our waking hours at work, changes to the way we do things can cause significant stress.
Organizational Change Management is a crucial aspect of Business Process Management as it tackles the most common reason for change initiatives to fail – human factors. By addressing these factors, OCM helps ensure the success of process improvements and changes.
There are various methods that organizations can adopt to implement OCM effectively, including Kurt Lewin's 3-Step Change Model, John Kotter's 8-Step Process for Leading Change, and the Prosci ADKAR Model. You can find more information about these methods in our article: Business Process Management Methodologies, What's In Your Toolbox?
Why is OCM critical to Business Process Management?
The pace of change is accelerating, and process innovation is one of the best ways for organizations to keep pace.
The best way to achieve this innovation is through Business Process Management and Digital Transformation. Learn more about the connection between BPM and Digital Transformation.
When paired together, BPM and Digital Transformation can deliver remarkable benefits to organizations. Automating and digitizing processes can boost efficiency, cut costs, and elevate the overall customer experience. However, it's important to note that successful automation and digital transformation rely on effective organizational change management, which guarantees that the changes are embraced and incorporated into the company's culture and processes.
Organizations are undertaking process innovation and digital transformation at an unprecedented rate. A recent report on technology spending identified digital transformation as the number one initiative on CIO's list.
Research has shown that as high as 75% of these transformation initiatives will fail, and resistance to change is cited as a significant reason.
Robust Organizational Change Management techniques can help mitigate the risk of failure.
Organizational Change Management Considerations
Consider these factors as part of your organizational change management approach:
- Understand how your change may affect other processes, teams, functions, or technology within your company.
- Keep your eyes open for change fatigue, which comes from what seems to be a never-ending onslaught of changes. Work with HR to develop programs to address this fatigue.
- Develop a network of "change champions" that can help drive and support organizational changes.
- Don't forget that BPM requires continuous process improvement, and OCM will continue to play an ongoing role as the processes evolve.
BPM brings with it continuous change. Utilizing OCM principles will allow you to keep awareness high, reduce negative impacts, minimize resistance, improve adoption and mitigate the risk of failure.
