Managing major change: A guide to realising the benefits of major change

Produced by: Socitm Insight

Type: Reports

Investment in technology is critical to achieving success, but that is not enough. Realising the potential benefits from such investment depends on the capacity to implement change.

Section 1 Introduction


Managing major transformational change is a significant challenge, not only because it is inherently difficult, but also because of the huge range of conflicting advice and guidance being offered about choice of methodology. Rather than being prescriptive about methodologies, this guide recognises differing approaches and instead identifies a number of critical success factors that need to be in place to deliver the change.

Section 2 Different dimensions of change


Transformational change is hard to characterise. Here we describe a number of different perspectives, but all recognise that there is a need for change to be significant, not just minor changes to existing systems. Delivering transformation, therefore, requires a dramatically different approach that is currently not well developed in local public services.

Section 3 Critical success factors for delivering change


Managing major change is a complex process. Often the focus is on programme and project management or on business process improvement. Here, we take a look at all the critical success factors, focusing on the strategic and softer issues rather than just the supporting processes.

Section 4 Implementing the change


Implementation requires much more than good programme and project management. This section examines the steps required to implement major change by suggesting answers to a number of important questions.

Section 5 Conclusions 


We have brought together into one checklist all the actions that this report has covered in a way that is designed to guide readers through the managing major change process.

Last modified: 20th July 2011