Change Management: The Secret to a Successful SAS® Implementation

Whether you are deploying a new capability with SAS® or modernizing the tool set that people already use in your organization, change management is a valuable practice. Sharing the news of a change with employees can be a daunting task and is often put off until the last possible second. Organizations frequently underestimate the impact of the change, and the results of that miscalculation can be disastrous. Too often, employees find out about a change just before mandatory training and are expected to embrace it. But change management is far more than training. It is early and frequent communication, an inclusive discussion, encouraging and enabling the development of an individual, and facilitating learning before, during, and long after the change. This paper not only showcases the importance of change management but also identifies key objectives for a purposeful strategy. We outline our experiences with both successful and not so successful organizational changes. We present best practices for implementing change management strategies and highlighting common gaps. For example, developing and engaging “Change Champions” from the beginning alleviates many headaches and avoids disruptions. Finally, we discuss how the overall company culture can either support or hinder the positive experience change management should be and how to engender support for formal change management in your organization.