Change-management

/ˈtʃeɪndʒ ˌmænɪdʒmənt/ noun

Definition

A structured approach to transitioning individuals, teams, and organizations from their current state to a desired future state. It involves planning, implementing, and monitoring organizational changes to minimize resistance and maximize adoption.

Etymology

Emerged in the 1960s as organizations became more complex and change became more frequent. Combines 'change' from Old French 'changier' and 'management' from Italian 'maneggiare' (to handle), reflecting the need to 'handle' organizational transitions systematically.

Kelly Says

Studies show that 70% of change initiatives fail, but it's rarely because the change itself was bad—it's because people weren't brought along the journey. The most successful change managers spend more time on the human side than the technical side.

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