Difference between transition and transformation ?
saurabh mahajanPMP, ITIL, PRINCE2| vodafonePune, Maharashtra, India
I would like to know thoughts on how transition and transformation are different and how does a organization manage both to give better value add for customers. Or how you have implemented the same in your organization. Saving Changes...
Stéphane ParentSelf Employed / Semi-retired| Leader MakerPrince Edward Island, Canada
The etymology of the words explain it: transition is going from one iteration to the next; transformation is going from one form to another. Saving Changes...
Thomas WalentaGlobal Project Economy ExpertHackenheim, Germany
Transition means handing over - what is handed over: e.g. ownership of a project result to operations or ownership of a transformed system. As such, transition may be very short, e.g. a meeting. The PgMP standard defines transition as a step before program closure.
Transformation means changing a form of something - e.g. of a system, an organization.
If you start an organizational transformation, it is often called a change initiative and managed by a change manager. Once the new form is reached, it might be transitioned to operations.
Sometimes, transformations (organizational changes) are only started after a project product was created and handed over (transitioned) to operations - but this is not to be recommended.
Thomas
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1 reply by Axel Maeyens
Apr 01, 2022 4:08 PM
Axel Maeyens
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Hi Thomas,
I can't agree more... but, I'm missing the purpose.
Why would an organization transition? Or, why would we transform?
Something is handed over - or transitioned - because we believe it can be done BETTER by another team, right? On the other hand, organizations might want to transform in order to do things DIFFERENTLY, not?
I hope it makes sense.
Transition means handing over - what is handed over: e.g. ownership of a project result to operations or ownership of a transformed system. As such, transition may be very short, e.g. a meeting. The PgMP standard defines transition as a step before program closure.
Transformation means changing a form of something - e.g. of a system, an organization.
If you start an organizational transformation, it is often called a change initiative and managed by a change manager. Once the new form is reached, it might be transitioned to operations.
Sometimes, transformations (organizational changes) are only started after a project product was created and handed over (transitioned) to operations - but this is not to be recommended.
Thomas
Hi Thomas,
I can't agree more... but, I'm missing the purpose.
Why would an organization transition? Or, why would we transform?
Something is handed over - or transitioned - because we believe it can be done BETTER by another team, right? On the other hand, organizations might want to transform in order to do things DIFFERENTLY, not?
I hope it makes sense.
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1 reply by Keith Novak
Apr 03, 2022 1:33 AM
Keith Novak
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Transitioning is a regular occurrence. The moon transits the sky. The commuter train is rapid tranist. To move to one place or another does not imply that the move is to a better place, merely a different place.
When a project transitions from design to build, it doesn't mean the build team is a better team, other they are better at building and the design team is better at designating.
Saving Changes...
Thomas WalentaGlobal Project Economy ExpertHackenheim, Germany
Hi Axel
the purpose of a transformation has to be given or you wouldn’t start it. Although the purpose might not be a rational one but emotional. Indeed I believe most transformations are driven by fear. Most agile transformations are in my understanding.
As for transitions, often the receiver is not well prepared or even deceived. For example if a project runs out of budget or time, the product may be ‚thrown over the fence‘, the change management is diminished and the benefits fall short of expectations. That is why the rates of project failures stays consistently high. The purpose of a transition often is to get rid of the ownership and avoid blaming for oneself. A frequent example is the handover between sales and delivery.
Thomas
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1 reply by Axel Maeyens
Apr 02, 2022 1:28 PM
Axel Maeyens
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Hi Thomas,
Thanks for sharing experiences I do recognize. But, I believe there are also RIGHT purposes next to them. Hopefully I'm not too naïve.
Axel
the purpose of a transformation has to be given or you wouldn’t start it. Although the purpose might not be a rational one but emotional. Indeed I believe most transformations are driven by fear. Most agile transformations are in my understanding.
As for transitions, often the receiver is not well prepared or even deceived. For example if a project runs out of budget or time, the product may be ‚thrown over the fence‘, the change management is diminished and the benefits fall short of expectations. That is why the rates of project failures stays consistently high. The purpose of a transition often is to get rid of the ownership and avoid blaming for oneself. A frequent example is the handover between sales and delivery.
Thomas
Hi Thomas,
Thanks for sharing experiences I do recognize. But, I believe there are also RIGHT purposes next to them. Hopefully I'm not too naïve.
Axel Saving Changes...
Hi Thomas,
I can't agree more... but, I'm missing the purpose.
Why would an organization transition? Or, why would we transform?
Something is handed over - or transitioned - because we believe it can be done BETTER by another team, right? On the other hand, organizations might want to transform in order to do things DIFFERENTLY, not?
I hope it makes sense.
Transitioning is a regular occurrence. The moon transits the sky. The commuter train is rapid tranist. To move to one place or another does not imply that the move is to a better place, merely a different place.
When a project transitions from design to build, it doesn't mean the build team is a better team, other they are better at building and the design team is better at designating. Saving Changes...
Love can sweep you off your feet and carry you along in a way you've never known before. But the ride always ends, and you end up feeling lonely and bitter. Wait. It's not love I'm describing. I'm thinking of a monorail.
