It is very simple to do introduce things and do things. Too easy. Changes can be made on the spur of the moment, or with a few minutes thought. However, achieving success is not as easy. Most changes (e.g., changing the status quo in a continuous improvement approach) do not go as planned and 'fail' in some way. Most as in 90%. Success is not easy. One of the reasons changes do not work is that that they are not thought through. They are not planned. A holistic view is not taken. Poor decisions result and poor decision making usually leads to a bumpy road and failure. Always remember: just because you can does not mean that you should.
In this note, we provide a short overview of the key principles we follow when doing change management. The principles are not a magical incantation or will guarantee success, but they will improve the odds of a reasonable outcome.
Not all of the points apply to all changes, but many might. The more impactful a change might be, more of the points apply. There is a process and there are points which can be used as checklists during the process; things to consciously reflect upon when contemplating a change.
It basically comes down to planning, doing, checking, and adjusting. There are six key questions: