{"id":256,"date":"2025-02-17T11:51:22","date_gmt":"2025-02-17T15:51:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/malat-webspace.royalroads.ca\/rru295\/?p=256"},"modified":"2025-02-17T11:51:47","modified_gmt":"2025-02-17T15:51:47","slug":"change-management-external-scan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/malat-webspace.royalroads.ca\/rru295\/change-management-external-scan\/","title":{"rendered":"Change Management Funnel"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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“If you’re walking down the right path and you’re willing to keep walking, eventually, you’ll make progress.” <\/p>\n– Barack Obama<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Change management in an organization is complex and challenging. Less than thirty percent of initiatives are successful, a stark metric highlighted by Al-Haddad and Kotnour (2015), who cited Balogun and Hope Hailey (2004), Beer and Nohria (2000), and Grover (1999). <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

This article explores a three-stage funnel visualization (Appendix A) that depicts the change management process from a high level and identifies key considerations that both leaders and individual contributors must understand, a critical point highlighted by Biech (2007) when discussing the complexities of change management goes beyond memorization of techniques for any given situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Theories<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Undertaking an initiative is often based on specific beliefs and understandings. In change management, these paradigms align with theories, which are hypotheses that leaders use to predict outcomes, as highlighted by Biech (2017). Given the diversity of beliefs and perspectives, multiple theories exist. One such theory, systems theory, suggests that organizations are complex and continuously influenced by external factors, creating a constant need for change (Biech, 2017). This theory is particularly relevant in digital learning environments, where reliance on technology requires continuous adaptation, an issue made more complex with large organizations with various use cases for different permutations of the same technology. The rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) has significantly impacted digital learning environments (DLEs) by enhancing access to and generation of information, which introduces risks such as misinformation and misuse. Leaders in DLEs must continuously evaluate AI’s impact, balancing its advantages and challenges through ongoing change management. Biech (2017) describes theories as the “top of the funnel,” meaning that an accepted theory drives all change management efforts. This theory subsequently informs strategies, which is the next step in the funnel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Strategies<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Strategies focus on implementing change, serving as a compass for guiding the change process. Biech (2017) highlights that change management is most successful when employing multiple methods. The four generally accepted strategies include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n