Problem Statement

Unpredictable change-related variables pose a serious threat to project completion. This can lead to delays, to running out of funds, and to completion below quality standards. These change-related variables may cause panic, which could lead to reactive decisions rather than solution focused progressive planning and intervention

Change projects attract change. This is challenging when stakeholders are located geographically on different continents, in different time-zones, languages, cultures, etc.
When stakeholders communicate strictly by email it creates friction and conflict among them. They cannot collaborate or complete projects as expected.

Theoretical Basis

Organizational Change: Complexities of change in change projects, managed electronically (by email), unpredictable variables to the project, and conflicts based on time-zone differences, language barriers, cultural challenges, etc..., all relate to poor project completion and dissatisfied customers.

Importance of communication: Good relationships between stakeholders (Gappmaier, 1997) improve the project effectiveness. Email correspondence (Biggerio, 2002) weakens relationships between stakeholders. Change, driven by unpredictable variables, even if predictable, creates conflict between people, which weakens relationships and leads to project failure.

Purpose of exploratory research

Electronic change management where stakeholders communicate only by email is globally practiced. But this is not an intentional change management method. It is the desire to use the electronic change management method to find the types and kinds of unpredictable variables that occur during change projects, causing change, panic, and failure of projects.

Identified unpredictable variables will become predictable. Reducing surprises in change project management will hopefully decrease conflicts among stakeholders and turn surprises into predictable and electronically managed solutions.

Method of Inquiry

Qualitative Case Study: The method is by electronic online survey. It is a change management practicioners' case study. The unpredictable variables that ought to become predictable and manageable are not known. The open-ended survey of the research may lead to other questions about the electronic change management method, perhaps even to other solutions, other than the theory discussed suggested. And of course, the internet IS/IT associated form of communication appears to overrule any other form of communication between stakeholders in today's time

Research Population

The research population is in the change management practicioners' group on LinkedIn which has over 2,000 members. Using the keyword 'project manager' there are about 500+ selected project managers within the change practicioners group. It is expected that about 50 people will respond to the survey. Demographics such as background and experience profile in their field of change management practicioners and project management will be requested as part of the survey. General professional profile information (work experience) is available online on LinkedIn.com to which the researcher has access.

Examples of Research Data

Discussion of change communicated or change directives made or received by email; change type and kind that occurred during a project that was discussed by email; surprises or unexpected/unpredicted variables that arose ("we didn't expect this variable"); What change variables were expected, that did and did not happen;

Invitation to participate in research:

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