Thriving in Complex Environments: My Change Framework

Years ago, I was asked to run the change management for a major government transformation program. I had zero formal change management experience. What I did have was a framework, a lot like the one in the image below, part of a great methodology. That framework became my compass, my safety net, and frankly, my magic trick for looking like I knew exactly what I was doing. It also shaped a career in change management.

Over 20 years later, I have learned that change management has evolved from well-meaning enthusiastic team members to a genuine discipline, but one that still is not valued at the enterprise level the way it should be. If change is now the norm, it may be time for Chief Change Officers to have a seat at the board table.

I have built on the original change framework, using what I have learned over the years from the disciplines of change management, program management, communications, leadership development, and systems thinking. Here are some insights that go with the framework. I hope you can apply them today.

How This Framework Works

The International Centre for Complex Project Management (ICCPM) reminds us that we live in an interconnected, interdependent world. Systems thinking is not a nice-to-have. It is the only way to see the moving parts, their relationships, and how they interact.

Change management thrives when you treat it as a system, not a checklist. This framework forces you to think that way. The six streams of effort — Project Management, Leadership, Business Changes, Stakeholder Engagement, Communications, and Training work in concert. Miss one, and the whole thing wobbles.