Each of the nine phases has between one and six activities, and each activity has between one and twelve tasks. The actual work of change happens at the task level. The activities and phases simply provide organization and logic to the overall sequence of the work. This Overview covers the phases, activities, tasks, and task deliverables. Work steps are not included in the Overview. A Thinking Discipline, Not a Lock-Step Methodology Complex change – especially transformational change – is multidimensional and dynamic, and requires flexibility and constant course correction. New information and circumstances emerge continuously, making transformation unpredictable and impossible to control. The Change Leader’s Roadmap is described here in a linear way, not because transformation is linear, but because the written word is linear. Do not let the detail, logic and structure of the Roadmap fool you into thinking that you can control or force your effort into a rigid, pre-determined sequence of tasks. No transformation can be effectively governed by a rigid checklist of actions, a formula, or a cookbook plan. What to do? How do you plan for and organize such a dynamic process? How do you create order out of this natural chaos? The Change Leader’s Roadmap is a navigation system that helps you guide your change effort through this chaos. It is used as a “thinking discipline,” a planning tool for making conscious decisions, not a lock-step project management tool. It is extremely comprehensive and likely lists most everything you will need to succeed in your change. But do not follow the Roadmap as written. Instead, customize it to fit your situation. Assess each of its tasks against the real needs in your change effort to consciously choose which tasks you will include in your change plan. You may only need to do sixty percent or so of the tasks provided in the Roadmap. Once you develop your plan, you will certainly need to alter and course correct it as you proceed. You may discover that you can delete tasks from your plan, or need to add, modify or re-sequence tasks. At times, you may realize that you are actually in two or three phases of work simultaneously. That is common. Remember, the beauty of the Roadmap is that it will keep you organized and conscious of the work required to succeed, while allowing you the flexibility to respond to the unforeseen dynamics that emerge as you proceed. Determining what to focus on (or not), and in what order, is your role and challenge as a change leader. How do Various Change Leaders Use the Roadmap? Change Sponsors need to understand the Roadmap only at the strategic level – the phases and activities. Change Process Leaders and Change Project Managers need to use it actively at the task level to shape and oversee both change strategy and detailed change plans. Change Consultants will need to know it and use it at both the conceptual and operational levels. It is also important for the workforce to understand your customized 4
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