Change management glossary.

A goal-based change model describing the five outcomes an individual must achieve for change to succeed: Awareness, Desire, Knowledge, Ability, and Reinforcement.

Measures that show whether affected people are using the new way of working and whether the change is becoming embedded.

A respected member of a business unit who advocates for a change and helps carry momentum into their team.

A structured plan for what each audience needs to hear about a change, when they need to hear it, and who should deliver the message.

The formal process for requesting, reviewing, and approving changes to a project's scope or an IT environment — distinct from change management.

The exhaustion and disengagement that builds up when people experience too much change over too long a period.

A structured evaluation of which groups, processes, and systems a change affects and how deeply, used to prioritize change effort.

A central team that sets standards, supports change managers, and gives leaders visibility across the portfolio of change.

The degree to which people and the organization are prepared and able to adopt a change before it goes live.

The point at which a group is being asked to absorb more change than it has the capacity to handle effectively.

The senior leader who provides visible authority, resources, and decision-making for a change — the single biggest predictor of change success.

The discipline of managing the people side of organizational change so that affected groups adopt new processes, systems, or structures and the intended benefits are realized.

The reluctance or opposition people show toward a change, which can be active or passive and is a normal, manageable part of change.

The practice of identifying the people and groups affected by a change and assessing their influence, impact, and readiness to guide engagement effort.

The process of identifying the knowledge, skills, and support each affected group needs to adopt a change.

A central function that coordinates, governs, and reports on a portfolio of change and transformation initiatives.