Increasing the understanding of change throughout an organization also streamlines the change management process, as fear of the unknown is one of the biggest causes of change resistance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By understanding each organizational change driver, you can increase your chances of success and effective organizational alignment<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Understanding these drivers can help you drive productivity by 63% as you achieve a successful change initiative<\/a> within your digital transformation. In this article, we\u2019ll explore what organizational change drivers are, how they differ from the nature of change itself, the eleven most common drivers, and practical ways to drive change effectively within your organization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Organizational change drivers are factors that determine how likely an initiative is to succeed and help you manage change better throughout your organization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By understanding each organizational driver of change, you can more easily tackle the complex, ever-changing challenges of organizational change throughout the change process, unlocking a competitive advantage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Things become simpler as you understand how change works and all its complexities and, crucially, why employees struggle to accept the transition and avoid change fatigue<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The two types of organizational change drivers are transformational and transitional. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Understanding these two types of change drivers can enable you to categorize the forces affecting your organization and develop more effective strategies for managing change efficiently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In many cases, a single root cause\u2014or a set of causes\u2014drives an organization’s change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Various internal and external factors can trigger a change in your enterprise. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For instance, competitive pressure may spur the implementation of a new software application<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Comparing the nature of organizational change and its drivers can help you understand the causes that drive change, supporting your progression to success. <\/p>\n\n\n\n See the table below to compare the differences between these two aspects of change. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Organizational change is inherently dynamic and multifaceted, characterized by several key aspects that shape its nature and impact on an organization. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 1. Continuous: It is an ongoing process rather than a one-time event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2. Complex: The interplay of various factors adds complexity to your company’s changes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 3. Multidimensional: It simultaneously affects various dimensions of an organization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 4. Disruptive: Change disrupts the established status quo within an organization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 5. Contextual: Each organization’s unique context shapes the nature of change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 6. Strategic: Often, this type of change is driven by strategic considerations, aligning with the organization\u2019s vision, goals, and long-term objectives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Various internal and external factors can trigger a change in your enterprise. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Common causes include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1. External influences: Changes in the external environment prompt organizations to adapt for competitiveness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2. Competitive pressures: Intense industry competition or new market players drive organizations to implement changes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 3. Organizational growth or decline: Significant changes in size necessitate organizational adjustments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 4. Technological advancements: Rapid technological progress can catalyze organizational change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 5. Mergers and acquisitions: Changes are often required during organizational mergers, acquisitions, or partnerships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 6. Internal inefficiencies or performance gaps: Identifying areas for improvement drives organizational changes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Consider the differences and similarities between the nature of organizational change and change drivers to help you conceptualize the bigger picture of how to respond to change drivers using your knowledge of the nature of the changes you want to achieve. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Below, we will examine eleven different drivers that promote organizational transition, but remember that some of these are root causes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n An opportunity for growth, for instance, is a root driver of change. <\/p>\n\n\n\n However, some of the others covered here \u2013 such as rebranding or restructuring \u2013 can be two things at once: a type of organizational change and a driver of change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n First, let\u2019s look at some common root causes of organizational change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Growth opportunities are a major driver of organizational change, and in today\u2019s digital market, this is no surprise. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The online economy has opened up countless new opportunities for growth, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Many people and organizations resist change<\/a> only when they feel it is essential. <\/p>\n\n\n\n And one thing that pushes people to change is competitive pressure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This pressure can come from bigger competitors, digital disruptions, new products, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n An organization can influence Business cultures deliberately, or these changes can occur naturally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When cultural shifts occur organically, then organizations must respond to those shifts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For instance, with every generation, cultures change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These changes demand new workflows, processes, work environments, communication strategies, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As with every other change driver covered here, the nature of the change will depend on the root cause of that change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Customer demands can also fuel organizational changes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n New buying habits, audience sophistication, and new technologies can all pressure an organization to make changes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Those change projects can include everything from new products to new marketing approaches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Emphasize this driver to your staff. ‘ Customer is king\u2019 campaigns can lead to success, as the culture tries to put customers at the forefront of all decisions and interactions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Today, technology itself is a major driver of change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The fast-paced digital marketplace is fueling digital transformation across industry after industry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The internet, for instance, has spurred the growth of countless markets, channels, and new economies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another example is how generative AI<\/a> has completely shaken up automation and made many customer service applications previously unavailable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To remain competitive, it\u2019s essential to respond to these change drivers positively and with an open mind. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Another basic reason to change is process efficiency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Inefficiencies can stem from many causes, such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Likewise, process improvements can come in many forms, from digital adoption to procedural changes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A shift in an organization\u2019s strategy can easily result in organizational change programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For instance, organizations that adopt a digital-first business strategy will likely undertake various digital transformation initiatives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A company emphasizing a customer-centric strategy will initiate several transformations to its customer-facing business functions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Like many of the other change drivers covered here, new products and services can result from other causes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And they can also fuel other changes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For instance, customer demand may push a company to create a new product. <\/p>\n\n\n\n That decision, in turn, can cause a business to engage in other change programs, such as structural changes, strategic shifts, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Organizational restructuring<\/a> can involve:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Any time a business is restructured, it often involves\u2014and fuels\u2014other changes, such as changes to procedures, processes, and culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rebranding is another type of change that can drive other changes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It can fuel:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mergers and acquisitions are often large-scale, impactful changes that drive:<\/p>\n\n\n\n These complex changes are often driven by other high-level causes rooted in business strategy, the business environment, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat are organizational change drivers?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What are the two types of organizational change drivers?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
The Nature of Organizational Change vs. Change Drivers<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Nature of organizational change<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Change drivers<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
11 Drivers of Organizational Change<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"11](\"https:\/\/www.walkme.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/07\/11-Drivers-of-Organizational-Change-1_34669f95.jpg?w=1024&h=484&crop=1\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n1. Growth Opportunities<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
2. Competitive Pressure<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
3. Cultural Shifts<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
4. Customer Demands<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
5. Technological Innovation<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
6. Process Improvement<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
7. Strategy Changes<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
8. New Products and Services<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
9. Restructuring<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
10. Rebranding<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
11. Mergers and Acquisitions<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
How to drive change in an organization<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"How](\"https:\/\/www.walkme.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/07\/How-to-drive-change-in-an-organization-1_77669f95.jpg?w=1024&h=584&crop=1\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n