What are the best practices for automating change management?

Bonne question....Peut-on automatiser la conduite du changement...? C'est un peu comme "Peut-on automatiser la conduite de projet" ? A mon avis: NON ! Mais on peut avoir un process et des outils.. Da là à parler d'automatiser, il y a un monde...Avec l'IA un peu plus peut-être....Hummm..

La première question à se poser est de bien mesurer son niveau de maturité sur la gestion du change, mais également des incidents et des problèmes, et la capacité de son organisation à embrayer sur de nouvelles solutions. En fonction de cela on décidera par exemple de trouver un outil qui prend également en charge la gestion des assets ou non. J'ai hélas vu trop de DSI partir des outils trop élaborés pour finalement comprendre bien plus tard que la marche était trop haute ...

Choosing the right tools to automate change management is a really critical step. Based on my personal research, I have discovered that tools like Jira and ServiceNow can transform the productivity of a project when paired with the team's workflow. It is important to consider not only immediate needs, but also future scalability and integration capabilities. A tool that fits well into your team's processes can significantly reduce the learning curve and increase adoption rates, leading to more successful change management initiatives.

Choosing the right tools means picking the best software or equipment for the job. For instance, if you're managing projects, tools like Trello or Asana can help organize tasks and deadlines. Similarly, for design work, Adobe Creative Cloud offers a suite of tools like Photoshop and Illustrator. By selecting tools tailored to your needs, you can work more efficiently and achieve better results.

One thing I've found helpful is to make sure you spend good time evaluating the tools. Make sure you understand the requirements and how the tool matches these requirements not the other way around.

Defining a clear process and roles is indeed one of the best practices of automating change management, as it helps to ensure that changes are executed smoothly and consistently. I would use workflow automation tools to automate the change request process, including the submission, review, approval, and implementation of changes. However, I always make sure that the process and roles are clearly defined and communicated to the relevant stakeholders. This includes specifying the criteria, steps, responsibilities, and timelines for each change request, as well as the escalation and exception procedures. This way, we avoid confusion, conflict, and delay in the change management process, and ensure that changes are aligned with the project.

Having a clear plan for how things get done and who is responsible for what is made possible by having clear roles and processes. It's similar to having a roadmap that indicates to everyone where they must go and what they must accomplish. In my experience, cooperation runs more smoothly and projects are more effective when everyone is aware of their responsibilities and the proper course of action. It resembles a well-oiled team where all members know their roles and collaborate to achieve the ultimate goal. This strategy keeps everything organized, reduces confusion, and facilitates the accomplishment of our goals.

One thing I found that gets missed during implementations is that the stakeholders jump into automation part before adjusting and refining the manual sequence, scope, and change management. The stakeholders need to learn how to crawl first and do it flawlessly then learn how to walk then run, which is the automation part.

Use meticulous approach: initiating, reviewing, approving, implementing, testing, concluding each change must be governed with procedures and criteria. Methodical framework ensures systematic change oversight, align risk management with overall aims. Designate clear roles - identifying sponsors, managers, change agents, users, and testers clarifies responsibilities, ensuring accountable process execution. Well-defined processes and roles eliminate overlaps, confusion, and conflicts, bolstering change management efficiency with corporate goals. Clarity and structure expedite implementation, reduce errors and disruptions, ultimately elevate organizational efficiency to new heights, achieving a harmonious balance between agility and stability.

You really need to think this through before implementing. It may be helpful to map out the automated workflow in a design tool first. Create a visual representation of the workflow using tools like flowcharts or process maps to showcase triggers, actions, decision points, and fallback processes. Then clearly define roles and responsibilities. Identify who can initiate changes, who approves them, and who receives notifications at different stages. Doing this BEFORE you pick your tool may help you decide which tool would be best for you.

I suggest that once you choose the right change management tools which fit your needs, work to Implement automatic flows and rules to streamline the process, ensuring consistency and efficiency. Design standardized workflows for each change stage, incorporating decision points and approvals. Set automation rules for actions like notifications and task assignments, triggered by specific criteria to minimize manual intervention. Ensure integration with other systems for data flow and cross-platforms actions. Design flexible and scalable flows adapting various change types and volumes. Daily monitor to refine these workflows/rules based on feedback loops and performance, ensure they remain effective and aligned with evolving needs.

Setting up structured work processes and adhering to precise criteria is the essence of implementing workflows and regulations. My own experience has shown that having well-defined procedures facilitates quicker work, fewer errors, and improved teamwork. Rules ensure that everyone is aware of their responsibilities and help us abide by the law and corporate policies. They also aid in decision-making and efficient use of our time and resources. Workflows and regulations have made it easier for my team to accomplish our objectives and get more done.

Another essential best practice for automating change management involves implementing workflows and rules to streamline the execution and validation of changes. Workflows, which consist of tasks triggered by events or conditions, can be executed by humans or machines. Rules, on the other hand, are logic sets or criteria applied to workflows to regulate flow, behavior, and outcomes. For instance, these mechanisms can automatically generate change requests, route them to designated approvers, deploy changes to target environments, conduct tests, and generate reports. Furthermore, workflows and rules can enforce policies, standards, and best practices to ensure consistent and efficient change management processes.

Les workflows sont des séquences de taches effectuées par des humains. Il renforce la coopération et la collaboration de travail entre agents par un accès libre aux rapports du moment que les modifications et les validations sont vues de tous. Ces séquences de taches dans le workflow peuvent être à l'origine d'un catalyseur de projets transverses.

Automating workflows and setting up rules based on the predefined processes and roles streamline operations and ensure consistency. Workflows can guide tasks through the various stages of change management, from initiation and assessment to approval, implementation, and review. Automation rules can help in enforcing policies, such as requiring approvals for certain types of changes or triggering notifications when specific conditions are met.

Couple of years back a client of mine was struggling with a departmental KPI linked to quality, which consistently fell short of targets, despite numerous action plans. In a decisive move, they dug deeper with their team, dissecting each quality issue with a fine-tooth comb. This wasn't just about finding flaws; it was about understanding them. Their meticulous analysis revealed hidden problems. Addressing these root causes led to targeted changes, significantly improving the quality metrics. This experience made me realize the transformative power of effective monitoring and measurement in change management, and that deep dive into data can lead to real, impactful solutions.

In my role as project manager, I make sure to monitor the situation and gauge our advancement. I can determine whether we're on track or if any adjustments are necessary by doing this. Make sure we're going in the proper way by consulting a map, similar to that. This enables us to maintain accountability and make progress over time. I've been able to keep everyone pleased and streamline our projects by paying attention to these little things.

Monitoring and measuring results is a crucial best practice for automating change management effectively. This entails gathering and analyzing data on various aspects of change performance, quality, and impact. Metrics such as change volume, frequency, duration, success rate, failure rate, and customer satisfaction offer valuable insights into the efficacy and efficiency of change management processes. Additionally, soliciting feedback through surveys and audits helps identify both strengths and weaknesses. By continuously monitoring and measuring results, organizations can track progress, identify areas for improvement, and optimize change management practices for better outcomes.

Once automation is implemented, continuously monitoring its performance and measuring the results against predefined KPIs is vital. This could include metrics such as the speed of change implementation, the success rate of changes, and the impact on operational efficiency. Monitoring allows for the identification of bottlenecks or issues in the automated processes and provides insights into the effectiveness of the change management efforts.

Systématiser un rituel bilan de projet permet d'engager des équipes vers une amélioration continue. Le format DAKI reste un framework simple et efficace qui peut permettre a toutes et tous de partager leur vision du réalisé. Tant sur le fond que sur le comment le projet a été géré et présenté.

Never stop trying to improve and adapt to new circumstances. This entails being receptive to criticism, seeking out opportunities for growth, and learning from what works and what doesn't. This strategy, in my experience, keeps me strong and adaptable when things change. My colleagues and I have both benefited from my constant pursuit of excellence, which includes learning new skills and coming up with innovative ways to complete tasks. It all comes down to keeping an open mind and looking for methods to improve upon what you already do.

Continuously improving change management automation is crucial. Adopt agile principles, gather feedback, and use metrics to identify areas for enhancement. Employ an iterative development approach, involving users and stakeholders for valuable insights. Keep documentation and training updated, assess risks regularly, and stay current with technology. Foster cross-functional collaboration, communicate changes effectively, and maintain a dynamic, responsive system aligned with organizational goals.

Continuously improving and adapting your change management processes and tools is a fundamental best practice in automation. This involves regularly reviewing and updating processes, roles, workflows, rules, and metrics based on evolving organizational needs and stakeholder expectations. It also entails exploring and adopting innovative technologies, methods, and best practices to enhance change management capabilities and performance. By embracing continuous improvement, organizations can ensure that their change management practices remain relevant, efficient, and effective in an ever-changing and competitive landscape, ultimately driving sustainable success and organizational growth.

In my field it’s truly important to be flexible and optimistic to change with a growth mindset. With change comes new opportunities and realize that we don’t work on projects alone but through a shared team effort. Which is why it is important to hold debrief meetings and listen to feedbacks from your team about the strategies, tools, or practices that needs improvements.

In my experience, the human side of change management is just as important as the technical side. I remember a project where we encountered resistance despite having state-of-the-art automation tools. However, after investing in change management training and stakeholder engagement, we saw a significant change in adoption rates. Remember, tools facilitate change, but people drive it. Effective communication and involvement of team members can make a big difference in the success of your change management initiatives.

In my opinion, inspection or audit can be great to identify whether the change is efficiently done or not. Take opinions from the team which is the official feedback. Basically, we need to observe whether the change is working out effectively or not for the project. After all, It is about return on investment (ROI). If the change is justifying the profit, it is good to go....

By integrating automation as part of a broader change management strategy, organizations can leverage the benefits of automation while preserving the critical role of human judgment, oversight, and collaboration in managing changes effectively and responsibly.

Es importante medir los tiempos involucrados en cada uno de los pasos de la gestión del cambio, ya qué Inside directamente en los resultados.

-Implement Change Management Tools: Invest in change management tools and software that facilitate automation, tracking, and documentation of change requests. These tools typically include features such as change request forms, approval workflows, audit trails, and reporting capabilities. -Configuration Management Automation: Implement configuration management tools and automation scripts to manage and enforce configuration standards across IT infrastructure. Automate the deployment and configuration of servers, networks, and applications to ensure consistency and reduce manual errors.