In a world where everything is fast track, companies are constantly trying to keep up with external business environment, local and global economies and technological advancement. For a business to stay competitive they should continue looking for changes to improve for workplace processes, systems, and strategies. This is where organizational change management (OCM) is needed.

So, what is organizational change management or OCM? OCM is the framework for an effective way to manage a new business process in a system, changes in organizational structure or cultural changes within an enterprise. The stronger the framework is the better success you will have in implementing a change.

A successful OCM strategy plan includes an agreement of the vision of the change. There should be a governance committee to communicate and sell the vision. Training information to educate how the day-to-day process will change. Tools to measure the process throughout the phases.

So why is it important to have an OCM in your organization. Changes affect your organization in many ways, even your people.  A change management plan will cause a smooth transition for your company to be guided through the process of new changes. This sets up a formal plan that includes clear expectations, communication plan, and gap analysis. With a strong OCM strategy plan the stakeholders are more likely to buy into the process and will remain engaged throughout any discomfort that may be associated with it. It builds trust.

From my experience from working on a big project of implementing a new Medicaid system in Indiana, if there were no OCM than the project would not have went as well as it did. Yes, there were hiccups but with the OCM the stakeholders were able to know of the risks and issues early enough to come up with a plan to resolve them.  With having the OCM plan it eased the transitioning of implementing the new system.

Technology is always changing and having an OCM plan helps businesses stays on top of these changes. OCM helps better prepare a business to respond to any issues or risks that may come up during the implementation of a new change. OCM sets the framework that aids in helping to understand, commit to, accept and embrace the new process.