Transformation: The LDS View

The portal is a valuable, yet under appreciated catalyst for changing people's perspectives that can help leadership engage the organization, define a vision to meet the challenges of the ever-changing business landscape, build the organizational momentum to achieve its strategic objectives, and win the hearts, heads and hands of its employees.

That is why portal change management is so important.

Beyond visual cues and stories that target employee emotions, the portal can – must – address the rational dimension of change and enable the corporate vision through tools, resources, and content that give employees the necessary knowledge and skills to execute the vision. Important change initiatives should be supported by communications before, during, and following the launch.

Before
Prepare employees for the change; give them the opportunity to understand the scope of the change, why the change is necessary (the business case), how the change will impact them, how the company will benefit from the change, and the consequences for failure.

During
Quick, easy access to information required to perform the activity is essential. When change involves an online process, supporting content and training should be contextualized in line with the process.

Following
Post implementation, employees require encouragement and reinforcement. For example, updates on progress toward goals, cost savings and other measures can help employees see the ongoing value in their efforts. Opportunities for employee participation in the portal, via interactive features and story submission, can nurture a culture of ownership and proactive engagement.

The enterprise portal is an essential part of today's change management process.