Application of the Methodology for Change Management: The Case of an Italian Multidisciplinary Design Firm

Abstract

The aim of this chapter is to present the application and testing of the methodology for change management proposed in the context of an Italian multidisciplinary design firm. The objective of this firm was to move toward a collaborative and iterative digital design process. First, the conceptual framework proposed is used to identify the areas of investigation. Second, the set of change analysis methods is employed to understand the traditional design process, what process-oriented changes occur because of the firm’s ongoing digital transformation, and to envision the future digital design process. To achieve this, process mapping, stakeholder mapping, and timesheet tracking are the analysis methods applied in this case study. These methods aim at identifying, visualizing, and assessing the process-oriented changes at the following three levels: (1) ‘As-is’ state, which refers to the design process traditionally implemented by the firm; (2) ‘Transition’ state, alias the process implemented to develop BIM pilot projects; and (3) ‘To-be’ state, which represents the envisioned digital design process. Lastly, a potential digital transformation strategy is developed in accordance with the information extracted from the performed business analyses. The strategy proposed translates into two supporting tools: (1) Strategic matrix to manage changes for digital transformation from the perspectives of process, people, product, and policy, and (2) Heat map of the digital projects developed to monitor the firm’s digital transformation.