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Effective consulting in change navigation centers on guiding organizations through transitions by aligning culture, leadership, and communication strategies, while operating model redesign focuses on restructuring processes, technology, and organizational architecture to enhance performance and agility. Change navigation ensures stakeholder engagement and minimizes resistance during transformation, whereas operating model redesign directly reshapes business capabilities to meet evolving market demands. Explore how expert consulting integrates both approaches to drive sustainable organizational success.
Why it is important
Understanding the difference between change navigation and operating model redesign is crucial for effective consulting because change navigation focuses on managing transitions and stakeholder engagement, while operating model redesign involves restructuring core business processes and organizational architecture. Accurate differentiation enables consultants to deploy appropriate strategies that align with client goals, minimizing disruption and maximizing transformation impact. Recognizing which approach to apply ensures the seamless integration of change efforts with long-term business model evolution, driving sustainable growth.
Comparison Table
| Aspect | Change Navigation | Operating Model Redesign |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Guiding organizations through transitions using communication and stakeholder management. | Fundamental restructuring of workflows, roles, and technology to improve operations. |
| Goal | Minimize resistance and ensure smooth adoption of change. | Enhance efficiency, agility, and alignment with business strategy. |
| Scope | Focuses on change management processes and people engagement. | Encompasses organizational design, processes, governance, and technology. |
| Key Activities | Communication planning, training, stakeholder engagement, feedback loops. | Process mapping, role definition, technology integration, governance structure. |
| Impact | Improves change adoption rates and reduces disruption. | Drives long-term operational improvements and strategic growth. |
| Duration | Short to medium term (weeks to months). | Medium to long term (months to years). |
| Consulting Focus | Change management expertise, behavioral science, communication strategies. | Organizational design, process optimization, technology consulting. |
Which is better?
Operating model redesign offers a more comprehensive transformation by addressing core organizational structures, processes, and technology alignment, leading to sustainable performance improvements. Change navigation primarily focuses on managing the human and cultural aspects during transitions, which is critical but less holistic than an operating model overhaul. Consulting engagements that integrate operating model redesign with effective change navigation typically achieve higher success rates in complex transformations.
Connection
Change navigation and operating model redesign are interconnected as effective change navigation guides organizations through the transformation of their operating models, ensuring alignment with strategic goals. Operating model redesign involves restructuring processes, technology, and organizational roles, which requires precise navigation to manage stakeholder engagement and mitigate risks. This synergy enhances agility and drives sustainable performance improvements across the enterprise.
Key Terms
**Operating Model Redesign:**
Operating model redesign involves a comprehensive overhaul of an organization's core processes, structures, and technologies to enhance efficiency, agility, and value delivery. This approach targets systemic improvements in workflows, decision rights, and resource allocation to drive sustainable competitive advantage. Discover how operating model redesign can transform your enterprise by exploring detailed strategies and real-world examples.
Target Operating Model (TOM)
Redesigning the Target Operating Model (TOM) involves a comprehensive overhaul of organizational structures, processes, and technology to align with strategic goals, enhancing efficiency and agility. Change navigation focuses on managing the human and cultural aspects during TOM implementation, ensuring stakeholder engagement and smooth transition. Explore how integrating both approaches optimizes transformation success and accelerates value delivery.
Process Optimization
Operating model redesign centers on redefining organizational structures and workflows to enhance efficiency, while change navigation emphasizes guiding employees through transitions to minimize disruption. Process optimization plays a critical role in both by streamlining tasks, reducing waste, and improving overall performance. Explore how integrating these strategies can drive sustainable operational excellence.
Source and External Links
Operating Model Redesign - Wilson Perumal & Company - A redesigned operating model links strategy to execution and is crucial as it defines how an organization aligns decision-making, assets, and operations to deliver value; since conditions change over time, updating the model is transformative and necessary for success.
Designing an Operating Model for Changing Market Needs - Deloitte - Operating model redesign is often triggered by new strategies or evolving market dynamics, emphasizing the need for adaptability, integration of initiatives such as automation and AI, and engaging leadership broadly to unlock significant productivity gains and sustain competitive advantage.
A new operating model for a new world - McKinsey - Organizations can close the gap between strategy and performance by choosing whether to refine or remake their operating model and committing to