Organizations must change to remain healthy. As open systems, organizations are sensitive to changes in the environment around them. These changes can have major impact. Overall health of an organization is strongly linked to its ability to anticipate and adapt to changes that affect its operations. Systems that don’t change in response to internal and external interactions will tend to stagnate. For change to be managed effectively, it must be planned, led, and reinforced. Planning for change allows an organization to solve problems and develop visions for the future. Leading change requires empowerment of those who must create change, making them part of the process and encouraging ownership. Reinforcing change helps to counter resistance and to integrate changes into the environment.

Note: This course is eligible for ACPE credit.

• Define change
• Define change management
• Describe stimuli such as external pressures, systems factors and data that cause change