Step-by-Step Document Imaging: The Process of Change

For any organization, especially large corporations, change can be a real pain. This is definitely true of implementing new document imaging and enterprise content management systems.

To make this process less painful and more productive, management gurus have developed various 12-step style programs. None are more instructive, perhaps, than "Kotter's 8 Steps."

First outlined in John Kotter's groundbreaking book "The Heart of Change: How People Change Their Organizations," the 8 steps are as follows:

1. Create a sense of urgency
2. Form a powerful coalition
3. Create a vision for change
4. Communicate the vision
5. Remove obstacles
6. Create short-term wins
7. Build on the change
8. Anchor the change in corporate culture

Since the book came out, many commentators have written about this process and it is often included in business presentations.

It's a particularly interesting list to look at with respect to document imaging solutions because the document imaging sales pitch is an argument for change that sometimes lacks an answer to the question, "Why?"

Why should the corporation implement a new document imaging solutions? Why is the new better than the old? Why is change necessary?

These are valid concerns for both the corporation selling document imaging solutions and the corporation purchasing document imaging solutions.

If answers are not immediately and easily forthcoming, an evaluation of Kotter's 8 Steps may be in order. At the very least, the list can spark conversation and debate.