Havelock’s Theory of Change: 6 Easy Steps

to Change
Change Management / By Bruce Tyson / Project Management

An Overview of Change
Change is making something different from the way it was. Change is a powerful and
inevitable part of life. Although many fear change, others champion it as a means to political
or social success.

People can change, whether on their own or in response to external circumstances. Usually
when people change, we hope for personal improvement that results in them becoming more
disciplined, organized, and self-fulfilled. Professional change also happens in life as
companies struggle to keep up with technological developments and market fluctuations.

Organizations as a whole need to deal with change as they seek to improve themselves in
areas of efficiency, productivity, and profitability.

Because we must all deal with change at every level of life, we must learn how to manage it.
As part of this effort we turn to theories of change that can help us understand, effect, and
manage change so it can be a constructive rather than destructive force in our lives.

Eric Havelock formulated one widely studied and accepted theories of change and how we
deal with it. Havelock’s Theory of Change gives us one way of looking at change in a six
stage process that acknowledges resistance to change and the need to carefully plan for
change.

The 6 Aspects of Havelock’s Theory of Change

Most change theories share several key aspects, such as Lewin’s unfreeze, change, refreeze
process. Because linear models are rigid and fail to account for the complexities of real life,
other models, such as Havelock’s Theory of Change have been formulated to expand on
Lewin to manage change through planning and monitoring.

1. Relationship. Havelock states that a relationship with the system in need of change
needs to be established. This could be regarded as a stage of "pre-contemplation"
where things are going along as usual.
2. Diagnosis. Once the agent of change is comfortable with the system as it is, the
person or entity being evaluated needing change is evaluated to see if there is any
awareness of a need for change. During this contemplation phase, the subject of
change must decide whether or not change is needed or desired. Often the change
process can end prematurely here because the subject decides that change is either not
needed or not worth any effort to correct.
3. Acquire resources for change. At this change, the need for change is understood and
the process of developing solutions begins by gathering as much information as
possible that is relevant to the situation that requires change.
 4. Selecting a pathway. The fourth stage of Havelock’s change theory is when a
pathway of change is selected from available options and then implemented.
5. Establish and accept change. Once the change has been put in place, it must be
established and accepted. Individuals and organizations are often resistant to change,
so careful attention must be given to make sure that the change becomes part of new
routine behavior. After change has been accepted, the change process can be declared
successful.
6. Maintenance and separation. Now that the change is successful, the change agent
should monitor the affected system to make sure that it is successfully maintained.
Once the change has become the new "normal," the change agent can separate from
the person or organization that was changed. At this stage, we hope that the person or
organization has learned enough about themselves and the change process that they
can maintain their new behaviors.

The End of Change

Through Havelock’s theory of change we see the importance of planning an orderly process
from recognition of the need for change to the subject’s ability to maintain a changed system.
Those who teach the theory do not always include one possible outcome: relapse. This occurs
where attention to the changes lapses and the system declines back to its original state.

Change often embodies a noble desire to improve self or a system, but often people fail to
recognize the amount of work that is required in order to effect lasting positive change.
Havelock’s theory of change helps you recognize this as you work as an agent of change.
Major Approaches & Models of Change Management
Change is the only constant reality of life and is observed not just in our personal life but also on the
professional front. But do all of us know how to deal with change? No. Managing change and learning
to adapt to it takes time, energy, efforts and training and this is the reason why several learned
individuals around the globe have come up with properly structured and defined models to manage
change. In this article, we shall go through what change management is and about the various popular
change management models that have been effectively and successfully been applied to businesses
and industries with the aim of dealing with transition and change.
In this article, we provide 1) an overview on change management and explain 2) the major approaches
and models of change management.

CHANGE MANAGEMENT: AN OVERVIEW

Change Management is the term that is used to refer to the change or transitioning people, groups,
companies and projects from one state to another. When this term is applied to businesses and
projects, it may refer to a process of transitioning the scope of the project in such a way that it can
meet changing requirements and objectives. What happens is that after a certain point in time some
changes may need to be introduced as far as functioning, operations, marketing, finance or the other
aspects of a business are concerned so as to improve its chances of reaching its goals. Change
management involves the application of structured methods and a pre-planned framework so as to
steer business from its current state to a desired state.
The main benefit or advantage of the application of change management is that it helps to increase the
chances of a business staying on its budget or schedule that in turn leads to higher ROI and realization
of benefits. Amidst the high competition and fast paced world, it is important for every organization
to move ahead by constantly bringing about useful and structured changes and adapting to new
technology and methodologies to meet customer demand.

MAJOR APPROACHES & MODELS OF CHANGE MANAGEMENT

In order to manage change and implement change strategies, it is important to avoid implementing
irrelevant or random methods and try to focus on a suitable plan of action. Change management is an
ongoing process that takes time, expertise, dedication and efforts to implement and run. It requires the
involvement of people or staff of the company and may also result in these people being affected by
the changes too. Before adopting one of the many effective and popular change management
approaches and models, an organization must first figure out why it needs the changes and how will
the changes benefit it.
The following are some of the best strategies and approaches to implement change management.
1) Lewin’s Change Management Model
Lewin’s Change Management Model is one of the most popular and effective models that make it
possible for us to understand organizational and structured change. This model was designed and
created by Kurt Lewin in the 1950s, and it still holds valid today. Lewin was a physicist and social
scientist who explained the structured or organizational change through the changing states of a block
of ice. His model consists of three main stages which are: unfreeze, change and refreeze. Let’s look at
these stages in detail:
Unfreeze: The first stage of the process of change according to Lewin’s method involves the
preparation for the change. This means that at this step, the organization must get prepared for the
change and also for the fact that change is crucial and needed. This phase is important because most
people around the world try to resist change, and it is important to break this status quo. The key here
is to explain to people why the existing way needs to be changed and how change can bring about
profit. This step also involves an organization looking into its core and re-examining it.
Change: This is the stage where the real transition or change takes place. The process may take time
to happen as people usually spend time to embrace new happenings, developments, and changes. At
this stage, good leadership and reassurance is important because these aspects not only lead to steer
forward in the right direction but also make the process easier for staff or individuals who are
involved in the process. Communication and time thus are the keys for this stage to take place
successfully.
Refreeze: Now that the change has been accepted, embraced and implemented by people, the
company or organization begins to become stable again. This is why the stage is referred to as
refreeze. This is the time when the staff and processes begin to refreeze, and things start going back to
their normal pace and routine. This step requires the help of the people to make sure changes are used
all the time and implemented even after the objective has been achieved. Now with a sense of
stability, employees get comfortable and confident of the acquired changes.

2) McKinsey 7 S Model
McKinsey 7-S framework or model is one of those few models that have managed to persist even
when others came in and went out of trend. It was developed by consultants working for McKinsey &
Company in the 1980s and features seven steps or stages for managing change.
Stages
Strategy – Strategy is the plan created to get past the competition and reach the goals. This is the first
stage of change according to McKinsey’s 7-S framework and involves the development of a step-by-
step procedure or future plan.
Structure – Structure is the stage or attribute of this model that relates to the way in which the
organization is divided or the structure it follows.
Systems – In order to get a task done, the way in which the day-to-day activities are performed is
what this stage is related to.
Shared values – Shared values refer to the core or main values of an organization according to which
it runs or works.
Style – The manner in which the changes and leadership are adopted or implemented is known as
‘style’.
Staff – The staff refers to the workforce or employees and their working capabilities.
Skills – The competencies as well as other skills possessed by the employees working in the
organization.
Benefits of this model
This model offers ways and methods to understand an organization and get a deep insight into the way
it works.
This model integrates both the emotional as well as the practical components of change that is
something that is important to create ways to enable employees deal with transition easily.
This model considers all parts to be important and equally worth addressing and thus does not leave
out some aspects that may be of importance.
This model also offers directional factor to organizational change.
Disadvantages of this model
Since all the factors are interrelated and interdependent on one another, the failing of one part means
failing of all and this is the greatest disadvantage of this model.
This model is complex as compared to the others and differences are not focused upon in it.
Organizations that have used this model have experienced more cases of failure, and this too can be
considered as one negative associated with it.

3) Kotter’s change management theory

Kotter’s change management theory is one of the most popular and adopted ones in the world. This
theory has been devised by John P. Kotter, who is a Harvard Business School Professor and author of
several books based on change management. This change management theory of his is divided into
eight stages where each one of them focuses on a key principle that is associated with the response of
people to change.
Stages
Increase urgency – This step involves creating a sense of urgency among the people so as to
motivate them to move forward towards objectives.
Build the team – This step of Kotter’s change management theory is associated with getting the right
people on the team by selecting a mix of skills, knowledge and commitment.
Get the vision correct – This stage is related to creating the correct vision by taking into account, not
the just strategy but also creativity, emotional connect and objectives.
Communicate – Communication with people regarding change and its need is also an important part
of the change management theory by Kotter.
Get things moving – In order to get things moving or empower action, one needs to get support,
remove the roadblocks and implement feedback in a constructive way.
Focus on short term goals – Focusing on short term goals and dividing the ultimate goal into small
and achievable parts is a good way to achieve success without too much pressure.
Don’t give up – Persistence is the key to success, and it is important not to give up while the process
of change management is going on, no matter how tough things may seem.
Incorporate change – Besides managing change effectively, it is also important to reinforce it and
make it a part of the workplace culture.
Benefits of this model
This is a step-by-step model that is easy to follow and incorporate.
The main idea behind it is to accept the change and prepare for it rather than changing itself.
Disadvantages of this model
Since it is a step-by-step model, no step can be skipped to reach the one after that.
The entire process given in this model can be very time-consuming.

4) Nudge Theory
Nudge Theory or Nudge is a concept that finds use in behavioral science, economics, and political
theory but can be applied to change management in organizations and businesses as well. This theory
is mainly credited to Cass R. Sunstein and Richard H. Thaler. Nudging someone or encouraging and
inspiring them to change is the basic essence of this theory. Nudge theory is not only helpful in
exploring and understanding existing influences but also explaining them to either eliminate them or
change them to an extent where positives may begin to be derived.
It is important to note that there are many unhelpful ‘nudges’ around which can either be deliberate or
may just be accidental. What this theory mainly seeks is to work upon the management as well as the
understanding of the many influences on human behavior that lead to the changing people. It focuses
on the design of choices which is responsible for directing our preferences and influencing the choices
that we make. What this theory says is that choices must be designed in such a way that it can be
aligned with the way people think and decide.
As compared to other theories, Nudge Theory is more sophisticated in its approach and is radically
different from other ways of transitioning. This theory eliminates traditional change methods like
punishment enforcement and direct instructions. One of the main benefits of this theory is that it takes
into account the difference in feelings, opinions, and knowledge of people and also considers the
reality of the situation as well as the characteristics of human nature and behavior. It thus minimizes
resistance from employees of a company and is very well applied in several industries.

5) ADKAR model
ADKAR model or theory of change is a goal-oriented tool or model which makes it possible for the
various change management teams to focus on those steps or activities that are directly related to the
goals it wants to reach to. The goals, as well as the results derived and defined using this model, are
cumulative and in a sequence. This means that while using this model, an individual must get each of
the outcomes or results in a certain orderly fashion so that the change can be sustained and
implemented. The model can be used by managers of change to find out the various holes or gaps in
the process of change management so that effective training can be offered to the employees. The
following are some of the things for which this model can be used:
To provide help and support to employees to go through the process of change or transitioning while
the change management is taking place.
To diagnose and treat the resistance shown by employees towards change.
To come up with a successful and efficient plan for the professional as well as personal improvements
of employees during the change.
ADKAR Model basically stands for
Awareness – of the need and requirement for change
Desire – to bring about change and be a participant in it
 Knowledge – of how to bring about this change
Ability – to incorporate the change on a regular basis
Reinforcement – to keep it implemented and reinforced later on as well.
Benefits of ADKAR Model
The model offers the capability of Identification and evaluation of the reasons why changes made
are not working and why desired results are not being obtained.
The model makes it possible for one to break the changes into different parts and then figure out the
point where change may not be as effective as planned.
It offers both business dimension of change as well as people dimension of change.

6) Bridges’ Transition Model

Bridges‘ transition model was developed by William Bridges who is a change consultant, and this
theory came into the eye of the public after it was published in the book “Managing transitions”. The
specialty of this model or theory is that it concentrates and focusses upon transition and not change as
such. The difference between transition and change may be subtle, but it is important to understand it.
Where transition on one hand is internal, change on the other is something that happens to people,
even when they don’t realize it. Transition is something that happens to people when they are going
through the change. Change can be instant, transition may take time.
The model focuses on three main stages that are given as follows:
Ending, Losing, and Letting Go – When people are first introduced to change, they may enter this
first stage that is marked with resistance and emotional discomfort. Some of the emotions experienced
at this stage include fear, resentment, anger, denial, sadness, frustration and most of all-disorientation.
One has to realize that he/she is coming near to a certain end so as to accept new beginnings.
The Neutral Zone – This is the stage of uncertainty, impatience, and confusion. This stage can be
considered as the bridge between the old and the new when people are still attached to the old but
trying to adapt to the new. This stage is associated with low morale and reduced productivity, and one
may experience anxiety and skepticism as well when going through this stage. But despite this, the
neutral zone may also include innovation, renewal and a burst of creativity.
The New Beginning – When the neutral phase is passed through support and guidance, the stage of
acceptance and energy enters the picture. At this level, people begin to embrace the change and
understand its importance. They are beginning to build the skills needed to reach the new goals and
may start to experience benefits of the change already. It is associated with high levels of energy, new
commitment and a zest to learn.

7) Kübler-Ross Five Stage Model

The Kübler-Ross five stage model was developed by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross after she pursued her
research on the dying and death. This model is also thus known as the Grief Model as it talks about
the various emotional states and stages a person goes through when he/she discovers that he/she may
be nearing their end. The model can also be applied to other life situations such as loss of job, changes
in work and other less serious health conditions. The model helps to understand and deal with
personal trauma and has been widely accepted worldwide. The following are the various stages that
are associated with the Kübler-Ross model:
Denial – Denial is the first stage of the model and is a stage when one is unable to accept the news.
It is like a buffer or defense that a person tends to create due to the inability to absorb the news. One
may experience shock as well as a sense of numbness during this stage and this happens because
every person shows resistance towards change and may not want to believe what is happening.
Anger – When the news actually gets absorbed, then the first reaction is usually that of anger. The
denial converts into anger when one realizes that the change will actually affect them and is for real.
One starts looking for someone to blame during this stage. For different people, there can be different
ways of directing anger.
Bargaining – The next step or stage involves bargaining so as to avail the best possible solution out
of the situation or circumstance. Bargaining is a way for people to avoid ending up with the worst
case scenario and is a natural reaction to avoid the extreme change.
Depression – When one realizes that bargaining isn’t working, he/she may end up getting
depressed and may lose all faith. This is the phase when one is not bothered by anything and moves
into a sad and hopeless state of mind. There are many ways to observe or identify depression and
some of them include low energy, non-commitment, low motivation and lack of any kind of
excitement or happiness.
Acceptance – When one realizes that there is no point in being depressed or fighting change,
he/she may finally accept what is happening and may begin to resign to it. There are different ways in
people handle this stage. While some may begin to explore the options left with them to make the
most of the situation, others may just feel that no option is left for them and may just resign to destiny.