Link Management Group = Consultancy, Interim and Project Management

Welcome to the Change and Project Management Practice Area

Practice Leader
Allan James

What do we mean by the Management of Change?

There are two important activities required to successfully bring about and sustain change in organisations. One is project management, which is necessary but not sufficient. The other is the management of change. They are distinctly different. Project management is about analysing and sequencing the necessary work and then reviewing and chasing progress. The management of change is about understanding and working with the dynamics of the organisation. It looks at the organisation as a living system that will react in many different ways to change initiatives, and is concerned with creating the conditions in which desired changes will come into being. When Project Management alone is used to implement change, organisations often experience avoidable delays and cost overruns and at worst projects become abandoned and the changes do not stick.

Link’s Approach and Method in the Management of Change

Our methodology can be viewed as a process. It starts by examining why a particular change is necessary. A change may be as ‘simple’ as a requirement to update the tools and processes used by employees to perform their job or as complex as restructuring the organisation to perform work off shore. Understanding why it is necessary and the benefits it delivers is an important starting point. Working out what will actually change in practice and who will be impacted is another step. The method includes defining appropriate governance structures and processes, communication strategies and mechanisms and methods for engaging employees, both in terms of their commitment and their participation in creating the change.

The Deliverables
We are able to respond to client needs in a number of ways.

Training. We run In-Company workshops for those who are managing projects or programs and business leaders who are sponsoring changes. They will cover the methodology and provide a package containing all the tools. The workshop delegates will learn by applying the tools and methodology to current or planned changes they are working on.

Consultancy. Firstly, we can provide a ‘light’ consulting service for those who have gone through the workshops so as to ensure they build the skills and confidence to work without further support. We can also provide a full consulting service, in which we work with program or project managers and apply the method, and at the same time pass on the knowledge and skills to another nominated person so that change competence is retained in the organisation

The Management of Change Checklist
Click here to access a simple checklist that poses most of the important questions needed to be asked if a change is to be smoothly implemented. If a project manager or business leader can answer yes to all of them, she or he will minimise unexpected disruptions and delays.

Sectors
In general terms, the Management of Change methodology can be applied across most industrial sectors as it takes into account the different cultures existing in each. This list covers the main industries in which we have worked. However as with services we would suggest you contact us if you don’t see what you need from this listing.

• A dedicated service to organisations in need of Management of Change support for such things as restructuring or performance improvement.
• A clear external focus on key issues.
• Highly experienced executives with wide functional and market sector knowledge
• External skills and expertise to complete agreed tasks quickly and effectively
• Candid and supportive advice that will enable you to achieve sustainable competitive advantage.