Well, Change is generally seen as a transformation from one state of being to another. Interestingly, this can apply to both individuals and to businesses, as businesses consist of people and, when people congregate a 'Way of Doing Things' will emerge - a group culture.
As you've probably experienced, some change happens gradually and is usually due to the vagaries of life, friends, family and those you work with. This will also include some impacts from wider societal changes - political policies, economic pressures, etc.
And, when looking at a business, the same things apply. With people being at the centre of most businesses, most change will be influenced by the evolving business culture - 'The Way We Do things Round Here'.
Other change can be imposed, either from a key person in the business, or from outside - regulation or compliance requirements.
Imposed change invariably places impact on the business processes and its culture. Let's face it, people don't enjoy changes to the way they do things, and don't like to be left out of the loop. This means that, if they see something changing and don't know why, or how it will affect them, those unknowns will be filled - usually with rumour, and sometimes with anger and resentment.
This means that a business preparing to change what it does, how it does it, what it uses, processes, workflows, equipment, machinery, technology, or the way the business is structured, needs to think about the implications carefully before jumping into the whirlpool of change.
Think of it as a Transformation rather than a problem. Approach it with respect - even a small change can throw some well-used processes off into firefighting. Sometimes just because of something as simple as a change in data format.
Change needs to be Prepared, Planned and Managed, and MUST include your people. They know how your business works. They can add value from insights on how changes will affect their work. AND, they're more likely to buy into any change if they understand WHY.
Also, if you you aren't completely sure about how your proposed change will impact your business, get in touch with a change expert. A discussion on how to approach a change is likely to save you time, money and a lot of stress.
And lastly, Good Luck with your business and any transformations you plan to carry out.
#businesschange #manufacturingexcellence #businesstransformation
