ABSTRACT
The AC-W Change Management Model is a research-based, people-centred model. Kotter’s business model was used to analyse how a national change was managed in higher education. From the analysis, the AC-W Change Management Model, with emotion at its core, emerged. Further research was undertaken to test the model during change. Its development, philosophical underpinnings and scope for managing change in healthcare and beyond is explored and discussed. Unlike many models that seem to ignore human emotion, this model acknowledges the role of emotions in change alongside the role of cognition. People’s emotional and cognitive readiness for change matters. Assessing emotional and cognitive readiness for change could potentially lead to successful change through engaging the voices of individuals in the preparedness and implementation change plan. The synergy and interconnectedness between the centre or ‘hub’ and the necessary conditions or ‘spokes’ are key to managing change in this model, allowing change agents to consider emotion throughout the change process. Like a bicycle wheel, the model can be manoeuvred or turned in any direction with emotion remaining at the heart of the model.
