A Simple and Effective Change Management Plan Template
You’ve been assigned to support a change initiative and need a plan. Starting from a blank page is not only intimidating but also unnecessary. It’s much faster to begin with an OCM plan template.
But hold on, are you already drowning in a sea of browser tabs looking for simple change management plan templates? Having trouble finding one that’s comprehensive? Look no further. We at OCM Solution have been doing this for a while and are sharing our tried-and-true change management process steps.
In this article, we’ll give you a quick and simple five-step change management plan example. You’ll also find out where to get a totally automated change management project plan that generates for you based on your OCM assessments.
Scroll down for an easy organizational change management plan roadmap.
Watch a summary below:
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What Is a Change Management Plan?
A change management project plan is a roadmap that guides your organization through transitions, big or small. It outlines the goals of the change initiative, identifies stakeholders, summarizes change impacts, defines communication strategies, and details training and support programs.
It’s a crucial tool for mitigating resistance, fostering employee engagement, and ultimately, achieving successful change adoption. It’s also typically the document that the change management team shares with executives and project leads about what it plans to do.
Are you still looking for change management procedure templates? Would you like to know more about the OCM planning process? Please reach out and let us know.
Your Easy-to-Use Change Management Plan Template
While crafting a change management plan in project management (also called an OCM Plan) can seem daunting, it can be broken down into five easy steps.
Step 1: Define the Need for Change
Before embarking on any change initiative, it’s essential to clearly define the “why.” What problem are you trying to solve? What opportunity are you trying to capture? Answering these questions provides a strong foundation for your OCM plan and change management communication plan.
Action Points:
- Identify the Change: Clearly articulate what the change entails and why it’s necessary for the organization’s success.
- Set Objectives & Timeline: Define measurable goals and deliverables that align with the organization’s strategic vision. Create a timeline to meet those deliverables.
- Assess Impact: Evaluate how the change will affect various stakeholders, departments, and roles within the organization.
Step 2: Identify Stakeholders and Assess Their Needs
Not everyone within your organization will be impacted equally by the change. Stakeholders are anyone who will be affected by the change initiative, directly or indirectly. This could include employees, managers, customers, suppliers, and even partners. These impacted people and groups should be at the center of your plan and any change management process templates.
Action Points:
- Develop a comprehensive stakeholder list: Categorize stakeholders based on things like risk, role, and impact. Understanding their needs, concerns, and communication preferences is crucial for developing a targeted change management communication plan.
- Assess stakeholders to gauge risk: Survey stakeholders to assess their level of receptiveness and influence. Those with low receptiveness and high influence are high risk and should be prioritized.
- Assess stakeholders for readiness: Assess stakeholders for key indicators of readiness (awareness, acceptance, knowledge, and proficiency). It’s important to understand how ready stakeholders are for the change so you can draft your change management process steps accordingly.
Step 3: Create a Change Management Communication Plan
Develop a comprehensive change management communication plan that outlines your communication strategies for each stakeholder group. Consider factors like communication channels, frequency of communication, and the level of detail needed for each group.
Action Points:
- Craft Key Messages: Develop clear, concise messages that communicate the purpose, benefits, and implications of the change.
- Choose Communication Channels: Select appropriate communication channels, such as emails, meetings, intranet, and social media, to reach different stakeholders effectively.
- Provide Regular Updates: Establish a cadence for communication and provide regular updates on the progress of the change initiative, addressing any concerns or questions along the way.
Step 4: Plan Training & Support
Change often involves learning new skills, processes, or technologies. Providing adequate training and support to employees is essential for ensuring a smooth transition and minimizing resistance to change. Tailor training and coaching programs to meet the specific needs of different groups within the organization.
Action Points:
- Assess Training Needs: Identify the skills and knowledge gaps that need to be addressed to support the change initiative.
- Develop Training Programs: Design comprehensive training programs that provide hands-on experience, resources, and support materials.
- Plan Ongoing Support: Plan to offer continuous support and guidance to employees as they navigate the changes post-go-live, addressing any challenges or concerns that arise.
Step 5: Establish KPIs to Track Progress
Continuous monitoring and evaluation are crucial for assessing the effectiveness of the change management plan and making adjustments as needed. Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure progress and identify areas for improvement throughout the change process.
Action Points:
- Metrics & KPIs: Identify how you will monitor relevant OCM metrics, such as employee engagement, productivity, and customer satisfaction, to gauge the impact of the change initiative.
- Collect Feedback: Prepare how you will solicit feedback from stakeholders at various stages of the change process to identify successes, challenges, and areas for improvement.
- Reporting & Flexibility: Determine who and how often you will provide change management reporting to, and how insights gathered will be used to refine strategies, address issues, and optimize the change management plan for better results.
Are you looking for a change management plan example PDF or sample change management plan templates? Please reach out and let us know!
Bonus Tip: Utilize Change Management Plan Templates and Resources
There are numerous resources available to help you create winning change management plan templates. Change management software, like OCMS Portal, offer built-in change management modules with templates and planning tools.
Additionally, professional organizations and online resources often offer downloadable change management plan templates and best practices guides. Leverage these resources to streamline the process and ensure your organizational change management plan addresses all crucial elements.
If you’re looking for an autogenerated change management plan example PDF, you can download one below that comes from the OCMS Portal all-in-one change management platform.
Sample Change Management Plan Download
(Auto-generated from OCMS Portal!)
Conclusion: Sample Change Management Plan Templates
By taking the five easy steps outlined in the change management process example above, you can create a winning change management plan that sets the stage for successful change implementation.
Remember, a well-defined change management plan in project management is not just a document; it’s a roadmap to achieving your goals and ensuring a smooth transition for your organization.
So, embrace the power of planning and guide your organization through change with confidence!
Automate Your Organizational Change Management Plan
No time to construct a comprehensive change management plan? No problem! The OCMS Portal change management software does it for you. Just input your project details and do your assessments, and the platform automatically generates a comprehensive and easy-to-share change management plan.
See it in action… Sign up for a free trial now.
FAQ: Change Fatigue Definition & Meaning
What is a change management plan in project management?
A change management project plan is a document that outlines the goals of the change initiative, identifies stakeholders, summarizes change impacts, defines communication strategies, and details training and support programs.
What are 5 simple OCM plan change management process steps?
Here is a simple five-step change management process example:
Step 1: Define the Need for Change
Step 2: Identify Stakeholders and Assess Their Needs
Step 3: Create a Change Management Communication Plan
Step 4: Plan Training & Support
Step 5: Establish KPIs to Track Progress
Where can I find change management process templates that save me time?
The OCMS Portal change management software will automatically generate your change management plan in real time as you enter project and stakeholder assessment data. It also includes several other free change management procedure templates and resources.
Note: Content on OCM Solution's ocmsolution.com website is protected by copyright. Should you have any questions or comments regarding this OCM Solutions page, please reach out to Ogbe Airiodion (Change Management Lead) or the OCM Solutions Team today. OCM Solution was previously known as Airiodion Global Services (AGS).
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