ADKAR was developed over 20 years ago by Prosci on the basis of a longitudinal analysis of the change paths of several hundred organizations. The lessons learned and results obtained over the years have made it a cornerstone of Prosci's change management methodology.
A common mistake is the almost exclusive focus on the organizational level. This “top-down” approach overlooks an essential aspect of reality: change happens on the ground, precisely where people need to adopt and use the solution.
The central lesson derived from Prosci's research?
Each member of the organization must go through a sequence of 5 steps for change to be considered successful and firmly anchored.
Discover ADKAR, a structured approach to transforming change into a tangible reality, and making it last.
A sequence of steps to take to ensure the success of your change project.
The acronym ADKAR defines the 5 stages of the sequential process:
- Awareness
- Desire
- Knowledge
- Ability
- Reinforcement
Each stage must be seen as a building block for individual change.
Just as a building will eventually collapse if the foundations are not properly laid, acting precipitately by omitting steps can jeopardize the whole initiative.
Many organizations approach change as if it could simply be decreed. This approach leads them to train staff in a hurry, without ensuring their personal commitment and involvement in the change process.
Change doesn't mean sending an email on a Monday to organize a training session on Tuesday, and requiring employees to be up and running by Wednesday!