How does this benefit you and those impacted by the change?
Checking if your organization is prepared for upcoming changes through simple evaluations before making a big move equips you to:
- Spot obstacles, resistance, or gaps that need fixing or attention;
- Identify who supports the change and who may need extra help;
- Allocate resources more effectively;
- Increase the chance of a successful transition.
Simple practices for understanding and defining change:
- Spot the spark plugs. Ask managers who people trust – formal or informal leaders – and note your potential early adopters and champions.
- History holds hints. Scan past change efforts for what worked, what didn’t, and who adapted fast.
- Ask, don’t assume. Get quick, honest feedback with simple, direct questions: Do you understand what to do? Do you have what you need? What’s your biggest concern?
- Capacity before velocity. Gauge team bandwidth, including recent stressors and competing priorities, through quick drop-ins, huddles, or casual chats.
- Map the impact. Ask managers where the biggest impacts will land and on whom.
Helpful OCM resources for assessing readiness for change:
California Department of Technology (CDT) provides OD-related reference materials and tools that can be customized to meet your specific needs. For more in-depth guidance, including one-on-one consulting, reach out directly to CDT by filling out their Contact Form. Their services encompass a broad range of topics, including Organizational Change Management (OCM), Technology Consulting, and Project Management.
- Environmental Readiness Assessment Template – This assessment serves as a tool to assess an organization’s level of readiness for change in four environmental areas: organizational readiness, leadership readiness, employee readiness, and supporting infrastructure readiness. Each environmental area is assessed based on statements regarding the readiness of that area, and assigned a numerical score, and ultimately, a priority level. The Environmental Readiness Assessment assists the OCM Practitioner in identifying OCM priority areas early in the project lifecycle.
- Organizational Change Readiness Assessment Template – This assessment provides insight into the need for tailored OCM efforts in every level of the organization. The assessment is used to gauge each organizational level (executives, management, employees, project team, etc.) on the group’s thoughts, feelings, and readiness in each knowledge area.
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Contact CalHR’s Statewide Organizational Development Unit with any questions or feedback.
