Communication in the management of change : applications to the private and public sector

Abstract

Change is now widely accepted as an inevitable consequence of modern management. As such, practitioners from various disciplines are required to take responsibility for the management of change and its resultant transitions. In most organisational contexts, the nature and dynamics of instituting change and leading transitions are very similar. This article discusses the causes of change in a volatile global and local environment, explains the difference between change, transition, and transformation, and explores facts about change and people's reactions to it. The eight common mistakes in change management are deliberated upon and their solutions are given. After various challenges for initiating change have been formulated, some guidelines for the role of communication in the management of change are provided.