Come and find out some of the most practical guidance on how to approach a change impact assessment. Making sure that it is accurate and comprehensive. Not all change is equal so assessing the impacts accurately is important, and there are a number of tips from years of experience and lessons learned. 

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It doesn't matter what type of change you are working on, the key to putting together the right change plan is to understand the change impacts.  Now if you are a change practitioner how well you approach this, the better your change plan will be. But how do you make sure that what you have captured is accurate?

Well, here are the four tips for you to consider:

1) Be sure to assess ALL of the aspects of the change. Approach this analysis like a pro by asking about all aspects which are changing. Even if it is to confirm what ISN'T changing. For example at Myvirtualchangemanager we ask about 6 areas: Process, Policy, Technology, People, Products/Services, Physical Environment. The more aspects that are changing, the greater the impact.

2) Ask five ways. Have you heard about the 5 Why model when it comes to analysing a problem. Well I embody an insatiable curiosity when it comes to analysing a change. Never take what someone says at face value but be curious. I often ask follow...

'It's just a change of reporting line' he said. 'Here we go again,' I thought. So I took my time walking through the changes, the impacts and what would need to be done. Luckily by the end I also got the response I had hoped for 'I get it now'. Every now and then, the outcome is different. I get the first comment and no matter what I cover, the impacts won't be acknowledged. There is sometimes a preference to play down the change. And without doubt as the change process takes place, there is a reaction to the emotional push back and its intensity that is experienced. My comment in these instances is - well this change isn't about you, and people don't react how you would react, they react based on how they feel. The only hope I can have in those cases, is that when it happens again the same leader will pay more mind to their people.

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