Change Management

Creating change, making it permanent.

Amitech’s view is that technological capability drives only 25% of desired business outcomes. Equally important are the people within the business teams, the cultural norms and dynamics, and repeatable processes and workflows.

Through dozens of customer engagements we learned that for large projects, systematic change management work is often not just helpful, but critical. As a result, Amitech has made organizational change management a core competency in our business. We help customers contemplating transformational initiatives to:

Avoid the Hazards

• Altering an organization’s learned behaviors requires an emotional component in addition to data-driven, rational approaches
• Typical change initiatives focus on the “more controllable” elements like technology and process improvement, which can be useful but not enough to significantly move the needle – and it’s almost never permanent

• Altering human behaviors consistently and sustaining them over time is the missing link in the vast majority of underwhelming project implementations
• Six-Sigma process improvement or leadership upgrades will likely drive some progress, but without ongoing analytics, accountability tools and work to “institutionalize” changes, bottom-line results will be elusive

• True change management is not a core competency for most companies/managers, yet it appears intuitive and “doable”
• On-going business priorities and challenges always take oxygen away from change initiatives
• Organizations don’t create sufficient conditions for successful change due to lack of experience and know-how

Focus on the People, Culture and Processes Too

As companies prepare for disruptive adjustments, there are some key realities that business leaders must recognize:

Leverage Proven Change Management Processes

Change implementation partners bring expertise and energy to push programs to success while making sure the wheels don’t come off the business. Amitech uses a proven 5-Step process to drive real change and business outcomes – and also underpins hard-won momentum. In brief, the process follows these steps:

1. 1. Establish the Why
   1. In-depth, data-rich discovery process to develop compelling reason to act. Establishing WHY things must change is the first and the most critical step to embarking on a change initiative. Prioritize and assign clear accountability, goals, and timetable for each work stream
2. 2. Establish and Launch a New Operating System
   1. Create a new organizational framework and operating model for the initiative. Enrolling senior executives is critical to bring legitimacy, acceptance, collaboration, and much needed resources. Use Governance as a laboratory for change
3. 3. Deep Analysis, Then Design
   1. Rigorous analysis, then detailed design for desired state with crystal clear objectives and measures of success
4. 4. Communicate with the Organization
   1. Frequently and consistently communicate the VISION: the WHY, WHAT, WHEN, and the HOW
5. 5. Implement Change
   1. Go live! Announce widely, follow the new Operating System, train and roll out processes to the font line employees

Benchmark Maturity

Change and Data Maturity models provide a vital backdrop that can give context to organizational realities. They also allow for specific progress objectives, targets and success metrics to be created as healthcare payors and providers chart their transformation as data-driven businesses.

Change Management is Not a Project

It’s a new business capability that requires leadership and management.  It must be designed, implemented, adjusted and practiced until the new “muscles” are strong enough to function on their own. Amitech is an expert in helping leaders transform their approach to change in order to transform their organizations — and ultimately the quality and cost of healthcare for all of us.

Contact us today for a “sales-free” discussion of how you and your leadership team can more effectively and predictably generate results from your teams.