What will be the target system for the change?
Planning Planning the who, how, and when of the change is a key step. What will be the target system for the change? Members from this system should be active participants in the planning stage. The more involved they are at this point, the less resistance there will be later. Lewin’s unfreezing imagery is relevant here. Present attitudes, habits, and ways of thinking have to soften so mem- bers of the target system will be ready for new ways of thinking and behaving. Boundaries must melt before the system can shift and restructure.
This is the time to make people uncomfortable with the status quo. Plant the seeds of dis- content by introducing information that may make people feel dissatisfied with the present and interested in something new. This information comes from the data collected (e.g., research findings, quantitative data, and patient satisfaction questionnaires or staff surveys). Couch the proposed change in comfortable terms as far as possible, and minimize anxiety about the new change.