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GAS DETECTION An Evolving Business and Safety Discipline “Change management is now a formalized process,” Chaachouh notes. “But I do believe un unformalized change management concepts must have existed for hundreds and really thousands of years prior because of advancements in civilizations, agriculture and so on.” Truly, humans have always grappled with change. Think of it as an informal dance with change, one that has spanned poten- tially thousands of years. However, the end of the 20th century marked a turning point. “In the 1990s, change management concepts were being ad- opted into businesses around the world,” Chaachouh points out. “Change management became formalized in the early 2000s. Technology had a huge impact on that because we’re changing at such a faster and more rapid rate than we ever have in the past.” The rapid development and adoption of technologies have turned change management into a formal discipline. The afore- mentioned dance with change was no longer just an informal waltz. It became choreographed and systematized. Companies worldwide began to not just recognize the need for structured change management but also to integrate its principles deeply within their organizational fabric. Chaachouh refers to the works of a cultural anthropologist named Van Gup, who delved into understanding human interac- tion with change before the 90s. Gup’s research underscored the journey humans take through three pivotal states when encoun- tering change: ■ Separation: This is perhaps the most challenging step, Chaachouh notes, in which individuals grapple with letting go of the familiar ■ Transition: Here, there’s a delicate balance between the old and the new. It’s a phase of metamorphosis and understanding why the change is happening. “This is why change management concepts are very important,” she adds. ■ Adoption: This marks the embrace of the new normal. Chaachouh explains it thusly: “We are now in our new current state, which is the future state, and this is what we’re going to be doing moving forward.” Now, companies gravitate towards formalized change man- agement. “Change management has become a discipline for com- panies to adopt these concepts, not only due to the results that they’ve seen but also because the formal structure has created processes and tools for those organizations,” Chaachouh says. Unpacking the ADKAR Model In other words, change management isn’t abstract; it is grounded in systematic models that can be implemented across corpora- tions. One such model that has gained traction globally is the ADKAR model, which stands for awareness, desire, knowledge, ability, and Reinforcement. The ADKAR method was introduced by Jeff Hyatt after his comprehensive study of change patterns across 700 organizations. A distinguishing feature of this model is its emphasis on indi- vidual change within a corporate environment. It pivots on the understanding that change originates from within, starting at the individual employee level and radiating outwards. Chaachouh elaborates on some key steps of the ADKAR model: ■ Awareness ensures that there’s an internal recognition and comprehension of the ‘why’. ■ Desire makes sure employees see the value, for instance, in having a connected gas detection device because of its tangible benefifits. ■ Knowledge underscores that employees fully grasp the nuances of the change management or the new technology. ■ Ability ensures employees and the organization can facilitate connected gas safety and the organizational changes entailed. ■ Reinforcement helps in transition through the stages – from the present state to the future state, which will yield specific benefits based on a company’s unique criteria.” Chaachouh says her company believes the success of con- nected gas detection is rooted in effective onboarding, thorough implementation, and widespread adoption and that the ADKAR model aligns well with that. “It fits into our value system, but it also fits into the value sys- tem of our clients by ensuring successful adoption of the safety solution,” she says. Again, the ultimate goal here is worker safety and ensuring every employee returns home safely to their families, Chaachouh stresses. To that end, her company offers dedicated client imple- mentation coordinators when onboarding new clients who assist them in incorporating the ADKAR method for heightened success. Measuring Change Management Because connected gas detection is tied specifically to workplace safety, understanding and measuring the impact of change man- agement is vital. It comes down to one ultimate question: How can we discern tangible benefits? The answer comes down to un- derstanding the client, Chaachouh explains. “We focus on the success criteria and the project scope that has been outlined with the client,” she says. “There are methods of quantifying that and ensuring that we have achieved the client’s success criteria and that we remain within the project scope to achieve their goals. And then internally within corporations, they will quantify the results of the ADKAR method, with the change in the safety culture within the organization.” Chaachouh adds that her company offers an analytics plat- form to aid this journey. “This platform provides data on usage, compliance, and gas readings,” she explains, offering a snapshot of the technology’s integration. However, she underscores the customization inherent in the process. “Every client’s needs and benchmarks differ,” she con- cludes. Though the specific metrics might vary, the goal remains consistent: creating a safer workspace. The key is to ensure that the metrics help gauge shifts in a company’s safety culture. The results? A decrease in site-related incidents, increased user awareness, and adoption. “That has been the biggest payoff,” Chaachouh notes, “finding that the end users are adopting the solution that the change man- agement is trying to facilitate, and the knowledge and the desire for the change that is reinforcing the change.” David Kopf is the Publisher and Executive Editor of Occupational Health & Safety magazine. 80 Occupational Health & Safety | OCTOBER 2023 www.ohsonline.com