This episode of the Project Management Podcast explores the interconnectedness of change management and project management. The hosts discuss the definitions, intents, and processes of both disciplines, highlighting where they overlap and diverge. A change management expert, Tim Creasy, is interviewed to provide insights and practical advice.
The podcast begins by introducing the topic: the relationship between change management and project management. The host, Cornelius Fichtner, welcomes Tim Creasy, a change management expert, to discuss the subject. They start by defining change management as helping organizations transition from a current state to a desired future state, encompassing both technical (project management's domain) and people-related aspects (change management's domain). Creasy emphasizes that change management makes projects more humane and productive. He highlights that successful change is unlockable and that project management and change management are most effective when integrated. The discussion then moves to the intent of each discipline: change leadership (deciding where to go), change management (ensuring people get there), and project management (building what's needed). The conversation briefly touches upon the challenges of change management, including leaders viewing change management ROI as separate from project ROI and the tendency to give only superficial agreement ("head nods") to its importance. Finally, the hosts introduce the concept of defining change management and project management at their core.
The first 15 minutes of the podcast introduced the core topic: the relationship between change management and project management. It established the context by defining both disciplines, emphasizing their complementary roles (technical vs. people-focused), and highlighting the benefits of their integration for successful project outcomes. The introduction of Tim Creasy, a change management expert, and a brief discussion of common challenges in implementing change management set the stage for a more in-depth conversation in the following sections.
The podcast doesn't directly contrast change management and Agile as separate entities. Instead, it addresses how change management integrates with Agile environments. The core argument is that while the implementation of change management might look different in an Agile context (due to the iterative nature of Agile development), the underlying principles of change management remain relevant. The key is adapting change management practices to align with the pace and cadence of Agile releases. Instead of a large-scale change initiative at the end of a project, change management in Agile focuses on smaller, incremental changes throughout the development process. The focus remains on understanding who needs to adapt their work and how to support those individuals through the necessary transitions at each iterative stage.
