{"id":121602,"date":"2019-02-06T15:49:24","date_gmt":"2019-02-06T23:49:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/about\/newsroom\/?post_type=arcuser&p=121602"},"modified":"2024-08-20T15:12:13","modified_gmt":"2024-08-20T22:12:13","slug":"a-seven-step-strategy-for-managing-technology-change","status":"publish","type":"arcuser","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/about\/newsroom\/arcuser\/a-seven-step-strategy-for-managing-technology-change","title":{"rendered":"A Seven-Step Strategy for Managing Technology Change"},"author":1432,"featured_media":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"sync_status":"","episode_type":"","audio_file":"","castos_file_data":"","podmotor_file_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","itunes_episode_number":"","itunes_title":"","itunes_season_number":"","itunes_episode_type":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[10432,23392,25012],"tags":[20422,311,271,279282,20392],"arcuser_issues":[126702],"class_list":["post-121602","arcuser","type-arcuser","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-arcgis-enterprise","category-cloud-computing","category-managers-corner","tag-arcgis-pro","tag-data-driven","tag-mapping","tag-technology-2","tag-web-gis","arcuser_issues-fall-2015"],"acf":{"short_description":"With the evolution of ArcGIS into a true web GIS, GIS managers now need to motivate people throughout their organizations to adopt geospatial te\u2026","pdf":{"host_remotely":false,"file":"","file_url":""},"flexible_content":[{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"With the evolution of ArcGIS into a true web GIS, GIS managers now need to motivate people throughout their organizations to adopt geospatial technologies. This challenge is also an opportunity for engaging a new ecosystem of users. Turning opportunity into reality requires a new way of positioning GIS so that it will be adopted by people who would not traditionally be GIS users.<\/em>\r\n\r\nChange is difficult. People tend to resist change. Applying technology change management principles can help overcome this tendency. Dr. John P. Kotter, Harvard University professor and founder of Kotter International, is a noted authority on leadership and change. Kotter's model for facilitating change is an excellent starting point for managers who want to expand GIS-enabled insights and efficiencies across their organizations. This article discusses how to apply Kotter's insights to create an actionable change management strategy that will help you drive adoption of geospatial technology and applications.\r\n

First Things First<\/h2>\r\nGoing solo is not an option. A team effort is required to spark interest in and adoption of geospatial technologies across your organization. When envisioning your organization's change management approach, start by considering factors that may inhibit or even prohibit change. Common factors that get in the way are organizational culture, complacency, bureaucracy, and a sense of futility.\r\n\r\nAn ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE that is structured into segmented silos will inhibit the collaboration needed to effect change.\r\n\r\nCOMPLACENCY is commonly seen with mature teams that have a history of success. A sign of complacency is hearing the response, \"The way we do it works fine; we don't need to change.\"\r\n\r\nBUREAUCRACY is a common change inhibitor in large organizations and government. By complicating and slowing change momentum, bureaucracy can stall and ultimately kill change initiatives.\r\n\r\nA SENSE OF FUTILITY results from the combination of the previous three factors. To teams, the prospect of overcoming these obstacles and effecting change seems overwhelming, and doing nothing is easier.\r\n\r\nIdentifying change-inhibiting factors you are likely to encounter is a critical part of building your strategy. You will need to develop key value statements to overcome or marginalize each factor as you work through these steps.\r\n

STEP 1\u2014Create a Sense of Urgency<\/h3>\r\nTo instill motivation, start by creating and clearly communicating a sense of urgency.\r\n\r\nA sense of urgency is rooted in the \"Three Whys.\"\r\n