Selection of Recent Change Articles

Here is my pick of recent change management articles and interviews :

Managing Change in the Creative Industries, by Nathalie Harrison, Senior Business Consultant, Sony Professional.

the media industry is one sector that has experienced record levels of change and faces some unique challenges when it comes to change management: new markets such as 3D, TV for mobiles and IPTV; consolidation of content providers, distributors and aggregators; fragmentation of audiences; new outsourcing models; the re-location of broadcast and other facilities; and a decline in commercial and public broadcasting revenues. The media industry is basically redefining its business model.

However, in media organisations maintaining a culture of creativity and innovation is critical to successful change; characteristics that can be threatened by increased processes. A common pitfall in technology intensive change programs is to neglect the people side of it and according to Nathalie Harrison, this has been the case for the media industry. She comes up with a list of top ten tips for managing change in the creative industries:

1. Agree the business case before taking the change programme forward

2. Understand the number of stakeholders involved in the programme and, more importantly, who is responsible for sign off

3. Make the change process consultative and encourage the participation of those affected by the change

4. Ensure that there is a steady flow of information into the business and that the style of communication is right for the audience

5. Remember to nurture your staff

6. Ensure that change happens locally

7. Anticipate the behavioural changes required to make the change successful

8. Put measurements for success in place in advance

9. Make sure that the technology works first time

10. Don’t be tempted to start on your next change programme until the first is embedded and you have measured its success

All of the above definately apply for any context and industry sector

Other articles and interviews worth reading include:

Why companies fail, by Gary Hamel on his excellent blog. His answers:

- First gravity wins. As companies grow ever bigger, their growing weight makes lasting performance more and more challenging

- Second, strategies die. The need for a company to redefine its strategy on a regular basis

- Third, change happens. The complexity of adapting to an ever changing environment

Change is hardest in the middle, by Rosabeth Moss Kanter, Harvard Business blogger.

Passed the project kick-off excitement, how to keep the change momentum going? Her tips for change leaders:

- Tune into the environment

- Check the vision

- Test support

- Examine progress.

- Search for synergies

Good reading!