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3 Change Management insights for students pursuing an MBA in Project Management
June 13, 2017
Great leaders are often skilled at dealing with change. Here are some change management insights students pursuing an MBA in project management might appreciate.
Planning out a business' activities in advance is an excellent way to create projections for the business, outline the supplies which need to be acquired and the personnel that needs to be hired, and plan out other work that will further the business' interests. However, a well-trained project manager knows the challenge with relying entirely on a plan is that things can change at any time. New political factors might arise, or perhaps unexpected shortcomings of a business might be discovered, changing the dynamics of your business or its environment.
Fortunately, change management training can help project managers overcome unforeseen circumstances and help businesses thrive. Planning to pursue an MBA in Project Management? Read on to learn some change management insights that could prove useful during your career.
MBA School grads can succeed at Change Management by maintaining good communication
At its core, change management is about responding to changes in plans, the environment, or other factors by adjusting business activity. For example, in order to take advantage of opportunities in a new market, you might need to change your marketing strategy to better target potential clients in that area.
Whenever making organizational change, it's important to remember that it will have a direct impact on the members of your team, or on the work they will do. Without being provided adequate information, members of your team may see your desire for change to be motivated by a lack of appreciation for what they do, or other negative sentiment.
That’s why it’s important to use leadership skills honed at MBA school to help guide employees through organizational change, and to motivate them to align with the new vision or processes that will be undertaken. A good understanding of interpersonal relations and team dynamics will allow you to address concerns and offer useful guidance and encouragement through the difficulties of a transition. These are important elements of continued success through large organizational changes.
Use MBA school training to create new plans for change
It's important to approach the implementation of change with the same deliberation that is afforded to initial planning for a business. Take care to define the types of change that will be made, the steps that must be taken to implement the change, and the expected consequences of implementing the change. These steps will allow you to develop new approaches to business in a structured manner, ensuring greater cohesiveness and stability throughout the process.
A good Professional MBA program can help you prepare for these sorts of responsibilities, providing you with expert instruction from experienced professionals within the worlds of academia and industry. By the time your studies are complete, you will be able to use your deep knowledge of change management to ensure that when you need to guide a team through change, you will be able to do so in an efficient manner.
Ensure your team has the support they need to succeed in the face of change
A changing business dynamic may require purchases of many sorts, including of new training tools and equipment as well as other investments that can ensure everyone on your team can thrive with new responsibilities or within a new system. By making these types of investments toward the success of your team, you can improve the odds of organizational success, too, through promoting greater productivity and higher morale.
Though it may not always be apparent what specific investments will be best for given situations, pursuing MBA training will provide you with the advantage of a large cohort of talented colleagues to poll for advice. If you know of any respected classmates or members of your alumni association who recently guided a team through a period of change, consider reaching out and asking for specifics of what they felt helped smooth the transition. Their perspectives and assistance could prove invaluable throughout your own managing of organizational change.
