Help Manual

Contents






Sigma Magic Help Version 15

Impact Assessment

Overview

The Impact Assessment document is used to determine the impact of the proposed change on the organization. It considers the expected impact of the change on various stakeholders, identifies how the change will be perceived by the organization, and what actions you can take to ensure that the change will be successful. The action plan has to developed considering both the positive and negative impacts that the proposed change will cause on the organization. The action plan should look to amplify the positive effects while addressing the concerns that will be raised due to any perceived negative impact or "loss" by the various stakeholders.

Inputs

This tool can be added to your active workbook by clicking on Change and then selecting Impact Assessment. Click on Analysis Setup to open the menu options for this tool.

Setup

A sample screenshot of the setup menu is shown below.
change input
1
Analysis Type: Specify the tool format for this analysis. This selection is not enabled since there is only one format available.
2
Num Stakeholders: Specify how many rows of data you need in your worksheet. The software will draw a border around these rows and clear any data below this table.
3
View Example: Click on this button to add an example worksheet. You can use the example to understand how others have filled out the tool or use the example as a starting point and modify it to better meet your needs.
4
Help Button: Click on this button to open the help file for this topic.
5
Cancel Button: Click on this button to cancel all changes to the settings and exit this dialog box.
6
OK Button: Click on this button to save all changes and compute the outputs for this analysis.
When considering the impact, think about both what activities have to stop with the change and what new activities have to start. Click on OK to save the control plan settings and enter the required data in the worksheet.

On the worksheet, enter the following details:
  • A serial number of the change impact assessment: 1-2-3 etc.
  • Name of the stakeholder group: such as engineers, accountants, front-line workers, staff, etc.
  • Number of people impacted by this change. The larger the number of people impacted by the change, the bigger is the effort required for the change.
  • Describe the change that you are asking the stakeholders to undertake.
  • Describe the degree of change required. A small change is easier to make, vs. a large change is more difficult to undertake.
  • The timing of the change. A change that is going to be implemented in the near term has a greater urgency compared to a change that has quite some time before it is to be implemented.
  • For each change, think of the impact on the stakeholders. What do they perceive as the positives and negatives of the change? If the positives exceed the negatives, then the change is easier to implement vs. a change for which the perceived negatives exceed the positives.
  • Finally, come up with an action plan to ensure that this change is successful. There are several things to consider for this action plan. Some of the techniques to ensure a successful change are:
    • Communicate the benefits of the change
    • Engage the stakeholders as part of the change effort
    • Negotiate with the stakeholders a win-win scenario
    • Use carrots & sticks approach
    • Provide training & support to the organization

Checklist

If you click on the Checklist button, you will see the following dialog box. Checklist The checklist contains a few pointers on things you need to pay particular attention to while performing this analysis. The checklist has been derived from experience working on past projects. Not all the checklist items need to apply to you. However, you should carefully review the checklist and apply any recommendations that make sense for your project. Make sure to read each checklist item and mark it as completed after you have read and taken actions as appropriate for your project.

Verify

If you click on the Verify button, the software will perform some checks on the data you have entered. A sample screenshot of the dialog box is shown in the figure below. Verify The objective of this analysis as well as any checks that are performed is listed in this dialog box. For example, the software may check if you have correctly specified the input options and entered the required data on the worksheet. The results of the analysis checks are listed on the right. If the checks are passed, then they are shown as a green-colored checkmark. If the verification checks fail, then they are shown as a red-colored cross. If the verification checks result in a warning, they are shown in the orange color exclamation mark and finally, any checks that are required to be performed by the user are shown as blue info icons.

Outputs

Click on Compute Outputs to update the computation results. A sample screenshot of the worksheet is shown below. Change Impact Example There are no specific outputs from this analysis. Manually ensure that all the items of the checklist have been considered when the tool is being filled out.

Notes

Here are a few pointers regarding this analysis:
  • You would typically use this tool when you have a fair idea of what solutions you are considering implementing for your change efforts. Ideally, you should use this before implementing the solutions within the organization.