…cultural change is the result of a strategic plan that supports the process and provides resources for overcoming inevitable challenges.

Lumen Learning.com

Change. Some cope with it better than others. Negative feelings surrounding change can include thoughts like:

• What’s the matter with how things are now?
• I hate change
• We don’t need to change, this is how we’ve always done it
• I don’t even see the point of this
• This is going to be so much more work!

Change for the sake of change is not necessarily a good or productive thing. But when change is going to improve the way something works overall, whether in your personal or work life, then the right attitude is helpful for all concerned, in making the change a success.

New system rollouts occur frequently and across many different industries; whether it be hotel bookings systems, car rental agencies or medical offices handling doctor/patient appointments. These are just a few of the many everyday examples of companies and organisations where employees would need to be prepared to embrace the change of new systems being implemented frequently.

A large part of the success of a new system, relies upon people receiving excellent training and becoming well versed in the navigation of new programs. Usually these sorts of programs will cost a company a great deal of money and time, so the decision to implement a new system is not one to be entered into lightly.

Optimo will always offer a demonstration of the program to prospective schools and organisations. The decision to implement Optimo usually comes after much discussion between all relevant departments including Music, Finance and IT.

Once the decision has been made to go ahead with the program, then the best way to ensure its success is to get everybody on board by communicating with them and informing them of any new procedures and how they will streamline the management of the music department. A new program which organises and benefits the music department, benefits the school as a whole. But everybody needs to be kept in the loop about it and there are some people that you may not even have thought of, including:

• Music and/or Performing Arts staff including all peripatetic teachers
• Parents/Caregivers of all music students who may now be receiving email correspondence, lesson scheduling or absentee notification from the music department and would need to be aware of the new system
• Staff in the Accounts Department
• Staff in the IT Department

Other faculties in the school who may need to borrow equipment from the Music Department, as there will be new processes to go through

OR

cover all bases and announce the rollout of a new system in a general bulletin or newsletter which everyone in your organisation is likely to receive!

Knowledge, transparency and open communication are going to help people feel informed and included so that they may be agreeable to embracing changes which will benefit everyone in the long term.

Like to know more? Visit Cultural Change | Principles of Management