What is change management and why is it important?

Change management is the process of helping people adapt to organizational changes. It's important because technical changes often fail due to people resistance, not technical issues. Effective change management involves clear communication about why change is needed, involving stakeholders early, providing training and support, addressing concerns, celebrating wins, and being patient. People need time to adapt. Example: A company implemented new software with proper change management—clear communication, training, and support—resulting in 90% adoption vs 40% when change management was skipped.