Abstract

DU PLESSIS, Y; SMITH, R  and  VERMEULEN, LP. An assessment tool for change dynamics within project management. JCMAN [online]. 2008, vol.5, n.1, pp.157-181. ISSN 1815-7440.

Managing the change process throughout a project's life cycle is complex and should be understood, planned for, implemented and measured by the project manager, supported by organisational systems and processes for enhanced project success. The aim of this research was the development of an assessment tool to measure change dynamics across the four stages of a project life cycle, being: the conceptual/initiation-, the planning-, the implementation-, and the post-implementation stages. A triangulation method was followed inclusive of a three-phased research design including a thorough literature review, item development and scale development using the principles for scientific scale development and psychometric testing. A non-probability sample of 85 (49.4%) South African and 87 (50.6%) international project managers mainly working in the United Emirates were used. The assessment tool developed consisted of 103 items. Item-scale and reliability analysis, together with Tucker's phi results, confirmed the reliability, internal consistency and structure of the assessment tool for both the South African and international samples. Cronbach alpha coefficients of 0.937, 0.974, 0.931 and 0.875 were calculated for each of the four phases of a project life cycle respectively. This tool should be useful as both a measurement and a diagnostic instrument for organisations and project managers to improve change management in the project environment.

Keywords : Assessment tool; change dynamics; change management; project; project management.

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