In 2001 Stratos conducted an in-depth research project to identify “Emerging Global Business Trends.” The research involved review and analysis of almost one hundred books, articles and websites augmented by in-depth interviews with key executives from over fifty companies. The number one trend identified from that study was the accelerating pace of change. In other words, change was accepted as a given fact of business, but the emerging trend recognized by top managers was that the pace of that change was continuing to accelerate.

Change Management is an organization’s attempt to develop and apply some strategic management to both inevitable and desired organizational change. Based on experience working with a wide range of companies, Stratos has developed a strategic approach to change management:

• The approach starts by working with a client to develop a clear assessment of the current reality of an organization. That current reality will include many things but the key components will be organizational culture, systems and economics.
• Next, Stratos helps a client identify the primary change drivers for their organization. The individual drivers for change can vary widely from company to company but will usually include forces such as technological change, market pressures, human/operational systems, organizational behavioral conditions and strategic initiatives.
• Stratos then helps client management identify the desired future state for their organization within this context.

Using this assessment information, Stratos consultants and client management work together to identify those forces driving inevitable change for their organization and the creative change forces needed to create those specific changes that can lead to the desired future state for the organization. Ultimately, this effort leads to a Change Management plan for that organization.