Knowledge Managers as Change Managers

Change managers play a key role in ensuring that projects are successful and are delivered on time and on budget. Unlike more traditional project managers, a change manager is responsible for ensuring that employees within an organisation adopt the news ways of working that a project demands. To put it simply, there is no point in implementing a new intranet/IT system/structure if no-one uses it and simply reverts to their old way of working.

Change managers must be able to work with everyone in an organisation from senior leadership to administrators to ensure that changes to ways of working are fully embedded. This could involve running workshops, training and mentoring line managers who are guiding their teams through change.

Qualifications and experience

To get a job in change management you’ll need to be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of established change management tools and techniques such as Agile, SCRUM, LEAN and P3. The two main routes into a change management career are either through traditional project management (typically staring with a Prince2 qualification) or through knowledge management. Successful change managers need to have exceptional communication skills and be extremely resilient, qualities they share with successful knowledge managers!

Related roles

Knowledge managers

Knowledge architects

Chief knowledge officers

Relevant Special Interest Groups

Knowledge & Information Management Group