The Science of Change

  Change Management   ProjectsAtWork  

Change initiatives require more than hiring a consultant or following a particular methodology or process. What works in one organization does not always work in another environment. The key is to understand the science behind change, and then use these general rules and principles to our advantage.

Change is not just something to be obtained; it is something we are all continuously experiencing. From the subatomic level to the movement of the galaxies in the universe, change is constantly occurring around us. Change requires the execution of some sort of process: it follows a set of rules and principles just like any other science. By understanding these rules and principles, and how they work, we can use them to our advantage when managing change initiatives.

One of the most powerful of these change science principles is that of “Environmental Override,” which in summary states that: “If the conditions in a given environment do not support the processes associated with a desired change, that change will not take place in that environment.” In other words, a change process that has worked well in other environments does not guarantee that it will succeed in your work environment.

Environmental override is one of the main reasons that a specific methodology or process can produce a desired change for company X but is unable to produce the …

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