There's a long-standing and often polarising debate within the Change Management profession: should we focus on delivering outputs, or on achieving outcomes? At first glance, the two may appear similar. But they are fundamentally different and understanding that difference is critical to the effectiveness and credibility of Change Management as a discipline. Outputs and outcomes represent different stages of results from an activity or project.
• Outputs are the direct, tangible products or services produced
• Outcomes are the broader, longer-term benefits or changes that result from those outputs.
Essentially, outputs are what you do, and outcomes are what changes as a result. You can't reach the outcomes without the outputs, but don't fall into the trap of believing that outputs alone are enough. True Change Management success is only realised when people think, feel, and behave differently—and when the organisation sees meaningful, lasting impact. So, when asked what Change Management should deliver, my answer is simple … we deliver outputs. But we are accountable for outcomes.
The author is a recognised Change Leader and has been in the "business of change and transformation" since 1974. He has worked across the length and breadth of the UK, across many European countries, and Internationally in a multitude of industry sectors and has "change managed" innumerable technology solutions. He is now a full-time Change Management Trainer delivering his unique Driving Change Management Course globally and creating an ever-growing Licensed Highway of Change Agent network using his Practical Framework Approach to Change. He is also an online Consultant, Blogger, Speaker, Coach & Mentor, and Trusted Advisor on all matters related to "change and transformation"
In June 2012 the author was presented with a "Change Leader of Tomorrow" Award by the World HRD Congress in recognition of my "remarkable progress in initiating changes enough for others in the same industry to follow my example".
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Source: Best Practices in Change Management PowerPoint Slides: Change Management … Outputs vs Outcomes PowerPoint (PPT) Presentation Slide Deck, The Highway of Change
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