by Tim CreaseyThe disciplines of change management and project management are both necessary when executing a project or initiative. Each discipline brings the critical structure needed for effectively implementing change and achieving the results you want. Yet, change management and project management must work together to achieve successful change. Doing so creates a unified value proposition, which sets the foundation for tactical integration and delivers value across all aspects of the project, including both the people side and technical side.
The paragraphs below juxtapose change management and project management, comparing common aspects of each discipline, including focus, definition, intent, process, tools, scaling factors, measurement of success, and practitioners. Although this list highlights the differences between the disciplines, it's more important to remember the common objective: to deliver successful change.
| Change Management – applying processes and tools to manage the people side of change from a current state to a new future state such that you achieve the desired results of the change (and expected return on investment) | Project Management – applying knowledge, skills, tools and techniques to project activities to meet project requirements |
| Intent |
|
| Change Management – to ensure that impacted employees embrace, adopt and use the solution associated with the change | Project Management – to ensure that the solution is designed, developed and delivered effectively |
| Focus |
|
| Change Management – employees impacted by a project or initiative (those who must adopt and use the change) | Project Management – tasks and activities required to create and implement the technical solution associated with a change |
| Scaling Factors |
|
| Change Management – characteristics of the change, attributes of impacted organizations, and degree of "people change" required | Project Management – complexity and degree of technical change associated with the particular project or initiative |
| Process |
|
|
Change Management
Source: Prosci 3-Phase Process™ |
Project Management
|
| Tools |
|
|
Change Management
|
Project Management
|
| Success Measurement | |
|
Change Management – measurement focuses on the people side of change elements, including:
*Because results and outcomes depend on individuals adopting the change, this is a primary focus.
|
Project Management – measurement focuses on the technical side of change elements, primarily:
*In some cases, intended results and outcomes take a secondary role behind time and budget targets.
|
| Who Practices | |
|
Change Management – involves a system of "doers" throughout the organization, not just change management practitioners:
|
Project Management – typically practiced by a project manager and a project team assigned to a specific project or initiative:
|
Project management and change management each contribute a critical ingredient to successful change. Although they vary in terms of focus and approach, each discipline is essential to moving your project and people from the transition state to the desired future state. Understanding how each discipline works alongside the other is the first step in achieving a unified value proposition and the strongest foundation possible for your change initiatives.
Tim Creasey is Prosci’s Chief Innovation Officer and a globally recognized leader in change management. His work forms the foundation of the largest body of knowledge in the world on managing the people side of change to deliver organizational results.
