Assessing Organizational Ability to Navigate Significant Change
By: Janna Pearman Jacobs
Here are the key areas you and your leadership team should review:
Evaluate organization’s current capacity for change
Assess these critical dimensions:
Leadership alignment – Are leaders aligned on vision and priorities?
Organizational culture – Is there a culture of adaptability and innovation?
Employee mindset – Are teams open to change, or is there resistance?
Change history – How has the company handled change in the past?
Communication strength – Are communication channels effective and trusted?
Assess Operational Flexibility
Review whether your operations can adapt quickly:
Processes – Are workflows rigid or agile?▪ Technology – Do current systems support rapid updates or scaling?
Supply chain – Is it resilient and diversified?
Decision-making – Is the organization capable of making fast, informed decisions?
Evaluate Talent & Skills
Understand if your workforce has the capabilities needed for transformation:
Skills inventory – Do employees have the skills needed for new strategies?
Training programs – Are upskilling/reskilling programs in place?
Change agents – Do you have internal champions who can lead change?
Review Governance and Structure
Ensure governance structures support rather than hinder change:
Decision rights – Are the right people empowered to make timely
decisions?
Accountability – Are roles and responsibilities clearly defined?
Agility – Can the org chart flex with changing priorities?
Test Scenario Planning and Crisis Management
Assess your ability to anticipate and react:
Scenario planning – Are there contingency plans for various disruptions?
Crisis response – How effective are crisis management protocols?
Data and analytics – Can the organization gather and act on insights quickly?
Engage Stakeholders
Gauge buy-in from key stakeholders:
Employees – Do they trust leadership and feel engaged?
Customers – How are they impacted by or involved in change?
Partners & vendors – Are they adaptable and aligned with your strategy?
Measure and Monitor
Implement KPIs and feedback loops to track progress:
Change adoption metrics – i.e. training completion, behavioral shifts
Business outcomes – i.e. efficiency gains, revenue impact
Employee sentiment – i.e. engagement surveys, attrition rates
Significant changes impact every company differently, and there are various ways to address them. Visit RKCMANAGEMENTCONSULTING.COM for ideas and methods to guide your organization away from CHAOS and toward steady, reliable progress.