Change is never easy, especially when the outcome of the change is unknown. Wouldn't it be nice to be able to test drive a new strategy before implementation? One method, the CALM method, developed by David J. Koehn, is a software application that does just that. CALM, which stands for Change Adaptation Learning Model, provides that "what-if" simulation capability.

This software projects and analyzes the likely consequences of change strategies. Users can thus practice how best to enable change, and apply the lessons learned from these dry runs to validate and refine plans.

Of equal importance, you can periodically update CALM scenarios to re-project and re-assess likely outcomes in light of current knowledge. What's more, you can track the execution of transformations across their lifecycles; detect and diagnose problems promptly; and make suitable mid-course corrections to ensure continued success. Ultimately, CALM promotes a proactive early warning approach. This method promotes change effectiveness, improved consistency, rigorous auditability, continuous learning, and improvement.

In short, the CALM solution helps organizations enhance tactical and strategic change planning and execution processes, reducing risk and improving confidence in their transformational decisions.

What Exactly is CALM?

CALM has three primary processes: modeling, simulation, and analysis.

Modeling. CALM captures available knowledge about static and dynamic aspects of situational contexts and transformations. Capturing situational dynamics is critical for CALM's second task: projecting the likely outcomes of organizational changes. CALM's modeling methodology focuses on:

• depicting the pending (or ongoing) transformation

• depicting the change enablement strategies that have been proposed (or are currently being executed) to help the organization prepare for and carry out the transformation

• tailoring CALM's built-in model of situational dynamics to the client's specific change context

CALM scenarios encompass the following types of situational data:

• relevant organizational units

• the transformation at issue (e.g., new IT systems or other technology, reorganization)

• metrics for measuring organizational performance and readiness to change

• goal metric values (i.e., the values required in order for the transformation to succeed)

• environmental forces acting on the organizational unit

• possible events that might occur and disrupt the change strategies

• candidate change enablement strategies.

Metrics are critical for measuring an organization's initial, goal, and evolving states. Existing change methodologies focus primarily on metrics relating to business infrastructure, which measure capabilities and flexibility of organizational technology processes, structures, and policies. However, the dominant causes for transformation failures typically trace back to less obvious organizational and workforce readiness factors, such as cultural dissonance, inadequate leadership support, poor communication, fear of change, lack of confidence, or inadequate skills or empowerment to carry out the necessary adaptations.

The CALM method measures organizational readiness to deal effectively with change across three dimensions: infrastructure, organizational, and personal (workforce) mindsets.

Simulation. The CALM software provides a separate interface to control the engine that simulates scenarios. Users can run simulations week by week or all at once (in "cruise control" mode). The interface provides gauges and time series plots for monitoring projected changes in readiness metrics.

Analytics. Once a simulation is finished, users access a point-and-click interface to generate plots and reports that allow them to assess how particular scenarios played out. Equally important, users can compare results across scenarios to identify the relative strengths and weaknesses of alternate change strategies and how they fare in alternate futures.

This type of comparative analysis is a key benefit of the CALM method. All change involves risk. Risk is unavoidable. What is important is to understand the possible costs and benefits of taking particular risks and ensuring that organizations only assume risks for which the rewards are commensurate. The CALM method and software provides a framework for exploring the consequences and possible pitfalls of change strategies, so that the client can face transformations with the least possible risk and high confidence in their planning and execution processes.

Carrying Out the CALM Method

CALM is a rapid, iterative methodology. Skilled consultants work closely with client leadership teams in cycles to gather information. They then use the CALM software to populate CALM scenarios, perform simulations, and analyze projected outcomes of change strategies.

Consultants then share these interim results with client management team to validate results, gather feedback to refine and extend scenarios, and carry out the next analysis loop. Most cycles typically takes a week or less to complete. This approach also minimizes the time burden on client team members.

Summary

CALM provides a disciplined dynamic framework for modeling organizational transformations. It helps organizations practice strategies under diverse possible futures and learn from those low-risk virtual executions. CALM can be applied over the lifecycle of extended transformations, helping organizations sense and respond to continuous situational change. Ultimately, the CALM methodology helps organizations reduce risk and increase confidence in responding to ubiquitous change.