Organization Change – Picking The Right Subject Matter Expert For Business Change

When it comes to organization change, the process is hard. It needs the efforts of a responsible change team, executive support, and meticulous planning. However, organization change is about the alteration of a specific kind of business. The issues and details of a food retail business are going to be a lot different from that of a car manufacturing business. On the team, there has to be someone who's an expert in change, and there has to be someone who has technical expertise as well. The pressing question is, in a specific business, who will take on the tasks and responsibilities of the subject matter expert?

With this situation, there is a temptation to resort to resumes. A resume is a summary of a person's qualifications and work experience, after all. Unfortunately, despite all of the focus that is given to resumes in business, they can be very poor indicators of the true subject matter expertise needed for organization change. If you look at a couple of resumes and both people have 5 years experience and both have graduate degrees in the subject, then it could be that both would make a good subject matter expert. But let's say, the first candidate has only been working through the motions enough to be called an expert while the second candidate has been very attached and passionate about the business since the first day. Given these choices, most change teams would rather pick the second candidate.

To choose candidate B and get him on board the organization change, one has to look past the resume and get to know him on a personal level. You can ask around in the office for people who have technical expertise and business sense. Don’t be concerned. This person is going to be known as the expert. Apart from their experience and credentials, these people have business intuition developed over years of dedication. They will provide honest recommendations without feeling the need of a formula. With this person on board as the technical expert in organization change, the project will run smoothly and not get hung up because of technical problems.

For more information, please check out our website: Organization Change