Evaluate the approaches to change

Explore and assess organizational change strategies in the Change Master Advanced Certification Workshop

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This class will take you to the next level of depth of understanding.

- Lisa McRoberts, Workshop Participant 2020

For change practitioners, a larger toolbox means there are more templates, best practices, frameworks and support available for the job.

Understanding the intent and outcomes of various tools is critical when selecting the best strategy for a project. As with many specialized professions, building up a toolbox requires time, patience and exposure to the application of tools in a real-life context.

The Change Master Advanced Certification Workshop is an opportunity for experienced change practitioners and consultants to explore and assess the application of various strategies.

Lisa McRoberts is a change management consultant and has a doctorate in organizational management. She describes translating a methodology from conceptual to real projects often requires a “shift in reality.”

“You can have the best change management methodology in the world, but you need context,” says Lisa, who participated in the Change Master Advanced Workshop in 2020.

She describes executing change management as detective work that aims to get to the overt and covert aspects of a change: why an organization needs to change, what it needs to successfully change, when the change needs to be completed and how to get there.

Lisa’s approach is to compartmentalize the features of the organization and its people to see the big picture and identify potential challenges and opportunities. The main components of a change are the:

1. Structures (how people are organized)
2. Process (how people work)
3. People (what people are skilled at)
4. Culture (how people feel and behave)
5. Technology (how tools are used)

A change’s context recognizes the interactions of these factors and the human elements.

Lisa’s depth of education and experience means she views change projects through an academic lens while remaining grounded on the realities of organizational change management. From a single project to embedding change management within an organization, selecting the most suitable strategy is critical.

“With all the different methodologies out there, you need to understand the best approach to take.”

She recommends avoiding assumptions about a change. A methodology enables objective and targeted strategies and tactics around each of the components of change, highlighting contextual challenges that leaders may be unaware of.

The LaMarsh Global methodology provides Lisa with an integrated tool kit addressing all components required to make reliable and logical recommendations.

“When I learned about the LaMarsh Global methodology, I was struck by how stringent it was,” says Lisa, who owns and operates Change at Hand. “I use the Managed Change toolset daily to reacquaint myself with the opportunities that should be considered in a project.”

For practitioners entering the discipline, Lisa suggests focusing on expanding their personal toolbox.

“Follow through with understanding various methodologies and approaches, and then use the best solution.”

The Change Master Advanced Certification Workshop for individuals that see the big picture of change management strategies:

• Anyone interested in working as a change management professional.
• Anyone sponsoring or leading changes in their organization.
• Anyone hiring change management professionals as internal or external experts.
• Anyone looking to complement their skill set in areas like business process improvement or human resources.

“This class will take you to the next level of depth of understanding.” ■