Understanding the Distinction Between Project Management and Change Management (Full Transcript)

Speaker 1: When it comes to projects, project management and change management both play an important role in achieving success. However, it can sometimes be a little confusing trying to separate the two. They both involve managing relationships, planning and overseeing activities, and identifying and mitigating risks. So what makes them different? Project management is the application of knowledge, skills, tools and techniques to activities to ensure project requirements are met. Project managers typically initiate, plan and deliver the project, and often use a methodology or structured approach to achieve the desired outcome. More specifically, a project manager focuses on project activities, outputs, outcomes and benefits. Solution design ensuring project requirements are met. And the progress of works and management of time, scope, budget and quality. From a project manager's point of view, a project is considered to be a success if it has been delivered to scope, time and budget and is technically accepted by the business. But what happens if a project is delivered successfully and the benefits are not adopted and realised by the business? This is where change management comes into play. Change management focuses on the optimal adoption of new practices by those impacted by projects or programs of work. In a project environment, change managers typically use their deep understanding of the psychology of change, specialist tools and frameworks to design the human change process. Alongside the project manager, the team and in consultation with the business, they also plan and advise how to integrate the project outcomes into the organisation. More specifically, a change manager focuses on who the stakeholders are, such as employees and customers. The context into which the change is being delivered, communication, engagement and adoption, skills and capability development, including leadership coaching and ownership, and change readiness to ensure the change is sustained and sticks. Unlike project management, a change manager's success is measured on the realisation of benefits and the adoption of the new ways of working. Can a project manager also manage the change elements? Yes and no. It really depends on the size and nature of the change. The integration of change management and project management creates value and together provide a unified approach for achieving the desired results and outcomes of organisational change. To help you on your change journey, connect with the Change Management Institute today. We're all about supporting our members and our community. To strengthen capability, enhance credibility and to be better connected.