Change Management

Change management is a key issue in education as the requirements of legislation and policy change and shift. The development of a capital project also has an impact by changing the environment in which teaching and learning takes place. It is important therefore to manage the process rather than be caught unaware by the impact a new building may have.

Change can be based on a strategy for the future or caused by external circumstances.

The development of a new college is an opportunity to consider how the client body wants to develop its delivery in the future and how that will then impact on the design solution. It is important that innovation in design is brought about through need and understanding of learning and how it will change and develop. Methods of teaching and learning as well as changes in curriculum need and demand have to be considered in the development of the project vision and in preparation of the brief to enable the design team to create an appropriate and innovative environment.

At an early stage consultation should take place to look to the future and consider how design processes can assist and influence positive outcomes and change.

It is important that end user stakeholders are aware what is happening so they are not confronted with an environment that they cannot work in because they do not understand it. Consultation at the early briefing stages of the project is valuable in ensuring understanding and ‘buy in’ to the proposals. Design reviews and exemplar visits are also useful tools to manage the understanding of change. The design team needs to be involved in these activities.

Design has a huge impact on the way people do things. It is clear for example that if an entrance is moved and a route into or through a building is altered, it changes the way people use the building. So from the outset a new design is going to change the ways things are done.

Ensure time is spent understanding the implications before deciding on the solution. Try things out. Look at where they have been done before. Visualising design is now much easier with 3D visualisation. This tool should be used to understand not only what a design will look like, but also how it may impact on how the end result is used.

When planning to manage change there are some key principles that need to be considered:

• Different people react differently to change.
• Everyone has fundamental needs that have to be met.
• Change often involves a loss and people go through a personal process of negativity until there is a recognisable positive outcome.
• Expectations need to be managed realistically.
• Fears have to be dealt with.

It is crucial therefore to give people information in an open and honest way and to engage them in the process and decision-making.