Change management is the process of planning, implementing, and managing the human side of change in an organization. Change management aims to minimize the resistance and disruption caused by a change, and maximize the adoption and benefits of the change1. Deploying a new enterprise-wide tool is a significant change that affects the way people work, communicate, and collaborate. Therefore, the best way for a CIO to manage the organizational impact of this change is to implement change management practices, such as:
Assessing the readiness and impact of the change on the stakeholders
Developing a communication and engagement plan to inform and involve the affected parties
Providing training and support to help the users learn and use the new tool
Measuring and monitoring the progress and outcomes of the change
Reinforcing and sustaining the change through feedback and recognition
Project management, risk management, and resource management are also important aspects of deploying a new enterprise-wide tool, but they are not sufficient to address the human side of change. Project management focuses on delivering the project on time, on budget, and on scope2. Risk management identifies, analyzes, and mitigates the potential threats and opportunities associated with the project3. Resource management allocates and optimizes the use of human, financial, and physical resources for the project4. However, none of these processes directly deal with the behavioral and emotional aspects of change, such as overcoming resistance, building commitment, and creating a culture of change. Therefore, change management is the best way for a CIO to manage the organizational impact of deploying a new enterprise-wide tool.
[References: 1: What is Change Management? - Prosci 2: What is Project Management? | PMI 3: What is Risk Management? | PMI 4: What is Resource Management? | PMI, , , , , ]
