Navigating Uncharted Waters: Lessons From Driving Business Impact-Focused IP Transformations

This article was first published at IAM.com

Change is hard. This is true for any organisation, or any function. People will naturally resist change in most situations as change introduces uncertainty, and uncertainty breeds fear. This near-universal truth will be recognised by leaders and change managers across organisations and contexts. However, IP organisations display a couple of characteristics that, in our view, make them particularly resistant to change.

This was the advice given to a Head of IP at the start of their implementation of a new organization and way-of-working. Months in, she thought she and the management team had communicated clearly, but the employees' persistent questions and evident dissatisfaction told a different story. With energy levels running low the question loomed: how could she break through and get the team's commitment to