Change Management Institute

The Change Management Institute (CMI) is a global, non-profit association of change managers. The CMI commits itself to advancing the profession.

CMI and APMG International collaborated to develop the qualifications described here.

UK employers recognize APMG qualifications and certified candidates are likely to be at an advantage in the jobs market.

Prosci is an American-based Change Management certification. Prosci qualifications are not recommended for UK-based candidates.

Levels of Change Management certification

There are 2 levels of certification.

Foundation certification

• Exam duration: 40-minutes.
• Exam style: 50 multiple-choice questions.
• Pass-mark: 50%.
• Manual allowed: no.
• Pre-requisites: none.
• Training: 3-day Foundation Change Management Course.
• Location: London.

Who should attend?

• Delegates interested in studying the basic principles for achieving successful transformation.
• Team members involved in transformation projects or programs.
• Delegates pursuing Practitioner certification.

Practitioner certification

• Exam duration: 2.5-hours.
• Exam style: 80 multiple-choice questions.
• Pass-mark: 50%.
• Manual allowed: yes - The Effective Change Manager’s Handbook may be used.
• Pre-requisites: Foundation certificate. 
• Training: 4.5-day Foundation & Practitioner Change Management Course.
• Location: London.

Who should attend?

• Aspiring or current change managers.
• Professional involved in the design, development and delivery of change programmes, including:
  • Change Project & Programme Managers
  • Change Managers
  • Senior Responsible Owners
  • Business Change Managers
  • Operational Line Managers.

Change Management course text book

The Effective Change Manager’s Handbook is the text book for the training. It covers the scope of the Change Management Institute’s (CMI) Body of Knowledge. The Handbook informs the Change Management course syllabus and is a UK standard for Change Management.

Well-known Change Management theories

The Handbook summarizes several well-known change theories. It combines them with proven best-practice change approaches and techniques. The result is a range of practical tools suitable for managers to use on change programs.

The 2 examinations are based upon a subset of these theories and best practices. The topics covered are briefly shown below. This page has more detailed information about all our Change Management Training options.

Change Management Foundation course

During the class students will learn:

• How the process of organizational change occurs.
• To build a change team.
• To help people adapt.
• To keep people motivated.
• The different types of change processes.
• To keep stakeholders engaged.

Change Management Practitioner course

During the class students will learn:

• How to apply process frameworks to plan for change.
• A range of organizational models with which to understand, support and sustain change processes.
• To prepare for change initiatives.
• To enhance the performance of a change team.
• To prepare staff.
• To be motivational yet empathetic towards the personalities of individuals.
• How to establish a framework of roles, skills and activities which enable leaders to manage the transformation.

Drivers

There are many drivers of organizational change. These include globalization, technology, regulation, competition and customer demand. If an organization fails to adapt, it won’t survive.

Project management

Project and programme management helps organizations to deliver products into their business activities. These programmes enable organizational transformation to take place.

For example, an IT system enables a business to become more efficient. But the IT system could become a wasted investment if the staff do not adopt it and use it as part of their work.

Unpredictable

Altering the way things are done is unpredictable. You cannot guarantee that what you have planned will happen. People affected can respond in many ways. These responses are especially unpredictable.

For many people, changing their working environment is unsettling and stressful. Some people may embrace it, others may resist.

Journey

Organizational transformation is like a journey. You are planning to arrive at a future situation and must get there from the current situation. If you cannot take the staff along with you on the journey, your initiative will fail.

Change tools

Leaders use tools and processes to plan, manage and reinforce transformation. It helps staff make a smooth transition. It also helps to overcome any resistance.

Effective transformation requires strong communication, training or coaching, stakeholder management and support.

Leaders

Managers are responsible for managing change projects and programs. They work with a team. They must also provide leadership to others in the organization.

Change agents are often engaged to help overcome resistance. An effective change management plan and strategy needs to be developed.

Project or programme managers deliver the products needed for the transformation to occur. These people will benefit from training by learning practical skills for managing transformation.

Change is not easy

Making effective organizational transformation is not easy. A rational, well-thought plan might get the approval of senior executives, but it often starts failing at the first hurdle.

Research

Research indicates that failure rates of transformation initiatives are high. Failure rates have been reported as high as 70-80% where the initiatives achieve substantially less than the expected value (King, S and Peterson, L (2007) How effective leaders achieve success in critical change initiatives).

Key success factors

Not all such initiatives fail however. Those which succeed often embrace 4 activities (IBM, 2008, Making Change Work). These are:

1. prepare by gaining deep, realistic insight into the complexity of the change and plan accordingly;
2. use a robust change methodology aligned with a project management methodology;
3. build and apply skills in sponsors, change managers and empowered staff;
4. invest appropriately in change management.

It was also found that the success rates when projects used a dedicated change manager increased by 19% compared to those that did not (IBM, 2008).

Change management qualifications

The Change Management qualifications offered here are designed to equip professionals with the knowledge and understanding to achieve successful organizationaltransformation.

Increasing demand

To respond to technological change organizations are undertaking more projects and more programmes. In turn, this is increasing the demand for managers with the necessary skills.

Natural career progression

Change management is an emerging profession. There are plenty of career opportunities available. For project or programme managers moving into this arena is a natural progression.

Leadership

Change professionals must be leaders. They need to understand individuals and help them move through turbulent times.

In this profession you’ll be working with many people within your organization. You’ll need to be a confident communicator with great interpersonal skills.

Certification

Training helps students gain a professional qualification. It also helps them gain a broad understanding of:

• best practices;
• change principles, methods and processes;
• how change arises;
• how people respond to change;
• how to design successful transformation programmes.

All classes take place at our venue in London. The address is: Landmark, 200 Aldersgate Street, London, EC1A 4HD, UK.

Change Management training

If your organization is undergoing transformation, consider equipping your staff with the necessary skills.

Contact us for more information about in-house Change Management training at your organization. Either fill in this form, or call us on +44(0)207-149-5985.