Optimize IT Change Management

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Infrastructure managers and change managers need to re-evaluate their change management processes due to slow change turnaround time, too many unauthorized changes, too many incidents and outages because of poorly managed changes, or difficulty evaluating and prioritizing changes.
IT system owners often resist change management because they see it as slow and bureaucratic.
Infrastructure changes are often seen as different from application changes, and two (or more) processes may exist.

Our Advice

Critical Insight

ITIL provides a usable framework for change management, but full process rigor is not appropriate for every change request.
You need to design a process that is flexible enough to meet the demand for change, and strict enough to protect the live environment from change-related incidents.
A mature change management process will minimize review and approval activity. Counterintuitively, with experience in implementing changes, risk levels decline to a point where most changes are “pre-approved.”

Impact and Result

Create a unified change management process that reduces risk. The process should be balanced in its approach toward deploying changes while also maintaining throughput of innovation and enhancements.
Categorize changes based on an industry-standard risk model with objective measures of impact and likelihood.
Establish and empower a change manager and change advisory board with the authority to manage, approve, and prioritize changes.
Integrate a configuration management database with the change management process to identify dependencies.

Optimize IT Change Management Research & Tools

Start here – read the Executive Brief

Read our concise Executive Brief to find out why you should optimize change management, review Info-Tech’s methodology, and understand the four ways we can support you in completing this project.

Optimize IT Change Management – Executive Brief

1. Define change management

Assess the maturity of your existing change management practice and define the scope of change management for your organization.

2. Establish roles and workflows

Build your change management team and standardized process workflows for each change type.

3. Define the RFC and post-implementation activities

Bookend your change management practice by standardizing change intake, implementation, and post-implementation activities.

4. Measure, manage, and maintain

Form an implementation plan for the project, including a metrics evaluation, change calendar inputs, communications plan, and roadmap.

Member Testimonials

After each Info-Tech experience, we ask our members to quantify the real-time savings, monetary impact, and project improvements our research helped them achieve. See our top member experiences for this blueprint and what our clients have to say.

9.5/10

Overall Impact

$30,874

Average $ Saved

Average Days Saved

Client

Experience

Impact

$ Saved

Days Saved

Testimonial

New-Indy Containerboard, LLC

Guided Implementation

9/10

$12,399

Synergi Partners

Guided Implementation

10/10

$74,399

Saskatchewan Blue Cross

Workshop

9/10

$30,000

Best: we came out with a very practical framework for change management that was right-sized for our organization Worst: On our end from time to time we had to be in and out of the session and Sumit would need to try to catch up whomever was missing. ...

4Wall Entertainment

Workshop

10/10

$30,999

Overall experience was great, a huge benefit to the entire IT team. Benedict Chang's mastery of the material and process was evident as we compressed the difficult objective of a formal change management program into a one-week sprint. The result includ...

Government of Saskatchewan-Ministry of SaskBuilds and Procurement- Information Technology Division

Guided Implementation

9/10

$16,000

Heniff Transportation Systems

Guided Implementation

10/10

$12,399

Best was affirmation of what process I have been using aligns with best practice, nothing negative at this time.

Department of Justice Canada

Guided Implementation

10/10

N/A

Ben was extremely knowledgeable, articulate, and succinct, able to move through much useful information very quickly without appearing rushed. I look forward to a follow up at a later date. Thank you.

Insmed Incorporated

Workshop

9/10

$105K

Sumit’s broad knowledge on the subject and sound advice to most senior people in the team.

Gainesville Regional Utilities

Workshop

10/10

$30,999

115

Great facilitation and a huge help with navigating us through some challenging conversations.

Oregon Youth Authority

Guided Implementation

10/10

$12,399

Ben was thorough in reviewing our current state based on our previous workshop. He was able to identify a few key areas we could adjust to being more efficient in our processes.

Municipality of Chatham-Kent

Workshop

9/10

N/A

The ability to customize the tools and processes to work for our organization. Ben was very knowledgeable and a good moderator of the discussion.

Derivco

Guided Implementation

9/10

$12,399

Best, great insights in a number of domains around Change Management, made us consider items we had not directly thought about. It was all positive. Nothing to suggest to improve it.

SF Fire Credit Union

Guided Implementation

10/10

$2,231

The MathWorks, Inc.

Workshop

8/10

N/A

Here is the participants feedback - Having the structured workshop with exercise's to complete was very helpful. Although the the exercise's could have been do completed in a shorter time. This could have been also due to the fact that workshop was vi...

Monroe #1 BOCES

Workshop

10/10

$61,999

100

Actually I wasn't cray about virtual learning in the past but it went with out a hitch and was perfect. Ben was fantastic and had the right pace and was very knowledgeable. The second great workshop we have done with Info-tech. Thanks!

Town Of Marana

Guided Implementation

10/10

$19,839

120

Frank is the best! With only a few calls, we went from no defined process to one that is already reaping the benefits with no pushback from staff. We were constantly stepping on our own toes due to a lack of change management, and now we have a right-s...

Dentons Canada Services LP

Workshop

10/10

N/A

Due to our large global footprint, the most difficult part was finding a time that all can participate. Recording the sessions was key to distributing the info wider. The best part of the experience was working with a subject matter expert who truly kne...

Hensel Phelps

Guided Implementation

10/10

$9,919

No worst part of the experience. Best parts were advise on blind spots and affirmation of being on the correct path.

DynalifeDX

Workshop

10/10

N/A

the best part was the fact that the solutions developed in the workshop are specific to us. the worst part was the price. $20,000 is a lot. We would use it more if it was less expensive.

Alabama Department of Environmental Management

Guided Implementation

10/10

N/A

This has been an excellent experience, as always. Frank was very helpful and knowledgeable, and his guidance and insight, along with the templates and tools provided, made this task much easier. We have only been really using the new process for a coupl...

The University of Texas at San Antonio

Guided Implementation

8/10

$61,999

IT Consultant

Guided Implementation

10/10

$25,000

The best part of my partnership with Info-Tech is availability and collaboration. The research is invaluable and beneficial to my professional growth.

State of Hawaii – ETS

Workshop

10/10

$61,999

N/A

The worst part was my inability to commit to the attend all hours of the sessions. I hope to be able to review the session recordings we made at a later date. The best parts were the information presented and the responses from the attendees. I think tha...

Autolus Limited

Guided Implementation

10/10

$58,899

Trinidad and Tobago Unit Trust Corporation

Guided Implementation

10/10

N/A

BEST ONLY!!! No worst parts experienced! It was a good session with valuable options presented to deal with a few challenges I have been trying to resolve in my mind for a while. The following have provided workable options for me to move forward with...

United Bank

Guided Implementation

10/10

$12,399

Frank did a great job of understanding our goal. Instead of proposing across the board changes, he looked at ways to alter our processes slightly to increase efficiency and ultimately meet our challenges.

Amicus Therapeutics, Inc

Workshop

10/10

N/A

While it is difficult to measure, the workshop brought everyone together on the process, defined improvements and provided a path forward. Sumit is so experienced that the virtual session worked really well.

Jet Support Services, Inc.

Guided Implementation

10/10

N/A

Benedict is very knowledgeable on the subject and able to adapt to our needs.

Summit Healthcare

Guided Implementation

10/10

$36,877

ISG Central Services Ltd.

Guided Implementation

10/10

N/A

I needed advice and basically a steer as to whether my own thought process was the right thing. I found the process smooth, seamless and so totally helpful!

Load More Testimonials

Change Management

Let your battle with change-related incidents begin!
This course makes up part of the Infrastructure & Operations Certificate.

Now Playing: Academy: Change Management | Executive Brief

An active membership is required to access Info-Tech Academy

Course Modules: 5
Estimated Completion Time: 2-2.5 hours

Featured Analysts:
Benedict Chang, Research Specialist, Infrastructure
Allison Kinnaird, Research Director, Infrastructure

Onsite Workshop: Optimize IT Change Management

Onsite workshops offer an easy way to accelerate your project. If you are unable to do the project yourself, and a Guided Implementation isn't enough, we offer low-cost onsite delivery of our project workshops. We take you through every phase of your project and ensure that you have a roadmap in place to complete your project successfully.

Module 1: Define Change Management

The Purpose

Discuss the existing challenges and maturity of your change management practice.
Build definitions of change categories and the scope of change management.

Key Benefits Achieved

Understand the starting point and scope of change management.
Understand the context of change request versus other requests such as service requests, projects, and operational tasks.

Activities

Outputs

1.1

Outline strengths and challenges

1.2

Conduct a maturity assessment

Change Management Maturity Assessment Tool

1.3

Build a categorization scheme

1.4

Build a risk assessment matrix

Change Management Risk Assessment Tool

Module 2: Establish Roles and Workflows

The Purpose

Define roles and responsibilities for the change management team.
Develop a standardized change management practice for approved changes, including process workflows.

Key Benefits Achieved

Built the team to support your new change management practice.
Develop a formalized and right-sized change management practice for each change category. This will ensure all changes follow the correct process and core activities to confirm changes are completed successfully.

Activities

Outputs

2.1

Define the change manager role

Change Manager Job Description

2.2

Outline the membership and protocol for the Change Advisory Board (CAB)

Change Management Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)

2.3

Build workflows for normal, emergency, and pre-approved changes

Change Management Process Library

Module 3: Define the RFC and Post-Implementation Activities

The Purpose

Create a new change intake process, including a new request for change (RFC) form.
Develop post-implementation review activities to be completed for every IT change.

Key Benefits Achieved

Bookend your change management practice by standardizing change intake, implementation, and post-implementation activities.

Activities

Outputs

3.1

Define the RFC template

Request for Change Form Template

3.2

Determine post-implementation activities

Change Management Post-Implementation Checklist

3.3

Build your change calendar protocol

Project Summary Template

Module 4: Measure, Manage, and Maintain

The Purpose

Develop a plan and project roadmap for reaching your target for your change management program maturity.
Develop a communications plan to ensure the successful adoption of the new program.

Key Benefits Achieved

A plan and project roadmap for reaching target change management program maturity.
A communications plan ready for implementation.

Activities

Outputs

4.1

Identify metrics and reports

Change Management Metrics Tool

4.2

Build a communications plan

Change Management Communications Plan

4.3

Build your implementation roadmap

Change Management Roadmap Tool

About Info-Tech

Info-Tech Research Group is the world’s fastest-growing information technology research and advisory company, proudly serving over 30,000 IT professionals.

We produce unbiased and highly relevant research to help CIOs and IT leaders make strategic, timely, and well-informed decisions. We partner closely with IT teams to provide everything they need, from actionable tools to analyst guidance, ensuring they deliver measurable results for their organizations.

Member Rating

9.5/10
Overall Impact

$30,874
Average $ Saved

24
Average Days Saved

After each Info-Tech experience, we ask our members to quantify the real-time savings, monetary impact, and project improvements our research helped them achieve.

Read what our members are saying

What Is a Blueprint?

A blueprint is designed to be a roadmap, containing a methodology and the tools and templates you need to solve your IT problems.

Each blueprint can be accompanied by a Guided Implementation that provides you access to our world-class analysts to help you get through the project.