Because change is inevitable, so is stress! Everyone handles change and stress differently. Highly stressed individuals exhibit less commitment to the organization and increased resistance to organizational change. It is essential for project managers to comprehend the subtleties of various motivational theories and think about how they apply them to their specific project settings.

There are five key motivational theories often referenced within project management. Those theories are...

1. Maslows Hierarchy of Needs
2. McGregors Theory X and Theory Y
3. Herzbergs Motivation -Hygiene Theory
4. McClellands Need Theory
5. Expectancy Theory

Scenario: You are a change management consultant hired by a healthcare organization to manage a major change initiative. The organization has recently acquired a new healthcare facility and is planning to integrate it into its existing network. The acquisition will require the adoption of a new Electronic Health Record (EHR) system, which will replace the existing system used by the acquired facility. This change will impact all employees, including doctors, nurses, and administrative staff, and will require extensive training and upskilling. Additionally, the new system will need to be integrated with the organization's existing systems, which will require significant technical expertise.

Displaying your understanding of motivational theories and PROSCI Change Management, answer the following questions:

As a change management consultant...

Q: How would you ensure a successful transition to the new EHR system and minimize disruptions to patient care?

Q: How would you manage resistance to change from employees who are comfortable with the old system?

Q: How would you measure the success of the change, both in terms of employee adoption and patient outcomes?

Please be sure not to write a generic response per question. Explain why "this theory" (or "these theories") would work best for each question, support your logic with evidence, and explain how you would integrate this theory using PROSCI's Change Management.

The key here is understanding how to use these tools and techniques to mitigate or eliminate your impediments. Although it's great that you know the terms, the application of the knowledge within situations like this is everything.

Change is hard because people overestimate the value of what they have, and underestimate the value of what they may gain by giving that up. James Belasco and Ralph Stayer