Having observed change over the past decade, it is clear that change is now the new normal. Working with multinational conglomerates, recent years have proven that only constant has been change. To keep up with these changes, we need to maintain a more agile mindset is all aspects. Change helps us keep ourselves challenged and agile in body and mind, affects our actions, work and attitude.

1. Why Change Is Good
Having observed change over the past decade, it is clear that change is now the new normal.
Working with multinational conglomerates, recent years have proven that only constant has
been change. To keep up with these changes, we need to maintain a more agile mindset is all
aspects. Change helps us keep ourselves challenged and agile in body and mind, affects our
actions, work and attitude.
Balancing Act
From operational changes to integration of company mergers, change can come like a whirlwind
or a steady company-wide effort to change their vision or drive new behaviours. Decades ago, if
one company acquired another (e.g. Hewlett-Packard’s merger with Compaq in 2002), it led to
fairly major changes and news. Today, changes to operational structure or design are par for
the course. Businesses are getting spun off or aligned with other business units. Change is now
a way of life across industries.
Every company is looking to drive change and agility for higher profits. They wish to keep their
margins low and get things done faster. Balancing speed and cost drives agility and in turn,
brings forth changes in technology and talent requirements. Global companies often outsource
work to whichever region has the most opportune combination of costs, speed and talent. As
the need continues to remain lesser costs and faster speeds, leaders are focused on getting
quick results. They are willing to sit with the right people, assemble the right team and develop a
prototype.
Rising to the Challenge
Change enables innovation. It poses a challenge that pushes us. If we ask a team to complete a
24-month project in 3 months, it presents them with an immediate challenge. If handled well, it
charges the team, forcing them to think creatively and bring out their best. The environment
becomes more competitive as the best try to win. Such a change is good for the company as it
provides a challenging atmosphere with learning and innovation opportunities.
Situations like this are becoming more commonplace with the younger workforce challenge the
erstwhile legacy, who have to unlearn or relearn ingrained thoughts and habits. Companies can
look to examples like Toyota, who is a solid example of creating successful change
management techniques such as their ‘Just-in-Time’ concept to reduce waste and upgrade
quality. Change management can be a game unto itself but the struggle is worth it with a win-
win outcome.
Embracing Change
With an emphasis on ownership and accountabilIty, global companies are trying to win over the
best talent, irrespective of where it comes from. They are adopting newer methodologies to
continuously adapt their strategy; trying out ideas and, if they don’t work, are quick to make
changes. By embracing practices such as DevOps, Agile coaching and concept-to-cash models,
they can speed up the approval and decision-making process and complete projects faster.

2. Being alert to new methodologies could have transformative effects and make a difference in
the survival of the company. After all, what worked before might not help now. The last ten
years have driven home the point that change is the new normal and is not a word to be
threatened by at all.
What changes have you observed over the years? Let me know in the comments below.
Seetha Rani KP is an HR Director at Honeywell Technology Solutions. You can contact her on
seethz@yahoo.com