ABSTRACT
The scale of the lack of emotional and cognitive readiness for change of staff undertaking change is explored. Using case studies, the potential application of the AC-W change model in creating cognitive and emotional readiness for change is demonstrated. The authors met with practitioners in the various settings to assess their emotional and cognitive readiness retrospectively, prospectively and in real time change. The findings for each of these are presented. The original tool designed with the AC-W model was used to examine emotional and cognitive readiness for change retrospectively in a large acute hospital trust. The change involved the redesign of the current medical unit to create a new large medical division. It was important to know people’s feeling and thoughts after the change had taken place. With the second case study, a real time change was taking place and thus the tool was revised to assess emotional and cognitive readiness for this complex change involving both organisational and practice changes. For the final case study, the tool was revised again for this prospective change which was used to assess emotional and cognitive readiness for personal change of two clients through the lens of the two professionals caring for these clients.
