Reliable Change Management Plan Template To Use This 2021

Changes in a company, regardless of their scope and nature, can be a make-or-break episode, and a change management plan templatecan aid in making changes successful.

One particular maxim from Heraclitus, who lived around 500 BC, according to the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, still rings true this 21st century. To paraphrase what the Greek philosopher once said, change remains to be the only constant thing in this world.

Business organizations face, tackle, and struggle with change from time to time. People – from the top management down to the rank and file – may propose it, agree with it, oppose it, or become ambivalent towards it. Nevertheless, time will come when they will individually and collectively deal with changes within the organization and in the company itself. A change management plan can ensure that things will go smoothly once changes have started to be implemented.

People will need a reliable change management plan template to guide them in carrying out the changes they aim to apply.

What is Change Management? Change Management process.

Change Management Plan Template For Free

Individual experts and trustworthy websites offer various definitions to the term “change management.” Interestingly, most of them seemed to agree on one thing when they described change management as a “systematic approach.”

This article chooses a simple definition, one that comes from the sixth edition of Oxford Dictionary of Business and Management. It defines change management – also known as change enablement – as “a systematic approach to dealing with both planned and unplanned change in an organization.”

To make change management systematic – in other words, structured or organized – is to create a change management plan.

Below are six samples of a specific change management plan template free for any business organization to use, courtesy of the award-winning software company Whatfix:

Change Proposal Template

There must be a strong reason, a good justification, and a sound and intelligent explanation behind a proposed change. All the pertinent whys should be clearly understood and answered. Whatever objective or motive for such change will serve as a guide in the overall change management process, particularly in making the appropriate change management plan.

Change Leaders Template

Specific people in the business organization must be involved in the change management process to make things happen, and such people will be designated as change leaders. Look for change leaders that are diligent, dedicated, and driven because they will be the principal figures working behind the change management process.

Change Management Communications Plan Template

Understanding why a change is happening is vital because people could be prone to resist change. Once they understand, they can be convinced and motivated to accept such change. Therefore, designing an effective communication strategy will aid in explaining to people the changes going on in a business organization.

Change Management Analysis Template

This part of a change management plan template is where the change leaders will examine the positive and negative results of each change being implemented. Each process needs scrutiny to check if the objectives laid out are attained or not and to determine if adjustments should be made.

Change Management Tools Template

The tools being referred to here are software tools, such as BMC Remedy Change Management 9, Rocket Aldon, and Whatfix. To implement change, certain change management tools will be needed, and the use of each should be explained.

Change Management Training Plan Template

As the business organization adjusts and adapts to whatever changes are being implemented, the transition will require people to undergo certain kinds of training. Such training will prepare them throughout the entire change management process.

Each change management plan template presented here will be discussed in the succeeding section as you learn how to write the said plan.

How to Make a Change Management Plan - Project Management Training

How Do You Write A Change Management Plan?

Creating a change management plan template involves identifying the specific steps to be undertaken, people to designate, software tools to use, and training to provide, among other things. Anticipating doubts and resistance and doing something about it are part of the change management process.

With the change management plan template already presented in the previous section, each component of a particular template below is briefly explained.

A. Change Proposal Template

• Proposed Change
• Tell when such change will happen and who will be affected by it.
• Reason(s) for Change
• Justify its importance/necessity to settle doubts and to avoid or at least lessen resistance.
• Intended Outcome(s)
• Estimated Duration
• Estimated Costs
• How much will be paid, for example, for professional consultation or the use of certain technology.
• Additional Factors to Consider

B. Change Leaders Template

• Change Leaders
• Title & Role
• Reason for Involvement
• Key Responsibilities
• Related People

C. Change Management Communications Plan Template

• Change Management Model(s)
• Change Leaders
• Events or Actions That Require Communication
• Date Of Communication
• Change Leader(s) in Charge of Communication
• Audience
• Reason(s) for Communication
• Method(s) of Communication

D. Change Management Analysis Template

• Change Management Model(s)
• Event or Action
• Original Date of Event or Action
• Date of Analysis
• Issues
• Successes
• Action Needed

E. Change Management Tools Template

• Change Management Model(s)
• Tool
• Purpose of Tool
• Change Leader
• Users
• Cost of Tool

F. Change Management Training Plan Template

• Change Management Model(s)
• Type of Training
• Audience
• Intended Outcome
• Method of Delivery
• Tools & Equipment
• Training Leader
• Planning Time
• Duration of Training
• Cost of Training

What Are The Components Of A Change Management Plan?

London-based management consultancy r10 identified six components of a change management plan, namely:

Leadership Alignment

It’s important to know who are the key people who shall play crucial roles in making the project succeed. The change management plan should be able to convince them to support and participate in the project.

Stakeholder Engagement

This time, identify the main stakeholders, who may include middle management people as well as other employees. Determine how much support they can render to the project and how much influence they will have over it.

Communication

Create awareness to increase understanding from the stakeholders and to attract engagement from them. Mo

Change Impact and Readiness

Comprehending how much the stakeholders are ready for such change and assessing how much influence the said change will have on them is vital. The result of such assessment will determine what approach to take to build up the readiness of the stakeholders.

Training

Change leaders should look for “knowledge gaps,” according to the article by r10. Training can help fill in those gaps and make people less resistant and more ready for change.

Conclusion

As this article started with a quote, allow it to end with another famous quote, and this time, from American statesman, scientist, and writer Benjamin Franklin: “If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail!” Remember this the next time you participate in drafting a change management plan template.

Change management entails a great deal of planning involving the right people – and all for the right purpose. Knowing how to create a change management plan template will be a good start for everyone involved in the process.

About The Authors

Steve Martins- I am a certified graphic designer and I earned my bachelor’s degree in Communication Design. I worked with many brands like Uniqlo and Huawei but also independent smaller Barcelonian brands like Caravelle and Madrid’s Hola Coffee and I have completed over 2000 projects in the last 5 years.