Designing Organizational Change That Actually SticksSKIP TO CONTENTHarvard Business Review LogoHarvard Business Review LogoOrganizational transformation|Designing Organizational Change That Actually SticksSubscribeSign InLatestMagazineTopicsPodcastsStoreReading ListsData & VisualsCase SelectionsHBR ExecutiveSearch hbr.orgSubscribeLatestPodcastsThe MagazineStoreWebinarsNewslettersAll TopicsReading ListsData & VisualsCase SelectionsHBR ExecutiveMy LibraryAccount SettingsSign InExplore HBRLatestThe MagazinePodcastsStoreWebinarsNewslettersPopular TopicsManaging YourselfLeadershipStrategyManaging TeamsGenderInnovationWork-life BalanceAll TopicsFor SubscribersReading ListsData & VisualsCase SelectionsHBR ExecutiveSubscribeMy AccountMy LibraryTopic FeedsOrdersAccount SettingsEmail PreferencesSign InHarvard Business Review LogoExecutive MasterclassDesigning Organizational Change That Actually SticksAn HBR Executive Masterclass with Boston Consulting Group partners Julia Dhar and Kristy Ellmer on the five phases of organizational change.May 29, 2026Summary.   Leer en españolLer em portuguêsPostPostShareSavePrintMost organizational transformations fail—not because leaders lack strategy, but because they misunderstand how people experience change.Read more on Organizational transformation or related topics Internal communication, Digital transformation, Organizational culture, Organizational development, Behavioral science, Psychology and neuroscience, Leadership and managing people and Change managementPostPostShareSavePrintRead more on Organizational transformation or related topics Internal communication, Digital transformation, Organizational culture, Organizational development, Behavioral science, Psychology and neuroscience, Leadership and managing people and Change managementSubscribe to HBR ExecutiveHBR Executive delivers trusted insights and actionable strategies to guide leaders through consequential decisions. Practical tools, and forward-looking perspectives cut through the noise to equip you to navigate uncertainty, stay ahead of emerging trends, and plan for a stable future.Exclusive BenefitsPlaybooksConcrete strategies, tactics, and solutions to real challenges from your peers and other experts. Published every 2 weeks. All Playbooks (Opens a new page)MasterclassesOn-demand sessions with top experts to help you strengthen your leadership. Posted every 2 weeks. All Masterclasses (Opens a new page)AgendaA weekly newsletter of timely insights that interpret today's business climate and help you chart a path to what's next. All Agenda (Opens a new page)LiveMonthly candid conversations with top business thinkers on topics you care about. All Live Sessions (Opens a new page)The Strategy LabAn AI-powered platform purpose-built to help C-suite leaders develop, communicate, and align their business strategies. Explore The Strategy Lab (Opens a new page)Customer ServiceExecutive For Your TeamOther SubscriptionsPartner CenterStart my subscription!Explore HBRThe LatestAll TopicsMagazine ArchiveReading ListsCase SelectionsHBR ExecutivePodcastsWebinarsData & VisualsMy LibraryNewslettersHBR PressHBR StoreArticle ReprintsBooksCasesCollectionsMagazine IssuesHBR Guide SeriesHBR 20-Minute ManagersHBR Emotional Intelligence SeriesHBR Must ReadsToolsAbout HBRContact UsAdvertise with UsInformation for Booksellers/RetailersMastheadGlobal EditionsMedia InquiriesGuidelines for AuthorsHBR Analytic ServicesCopyright PermissionsAccessibilityDigital AccessibilityManage My AccountMy LibraryTopic FeedsOrdersAccount SettingsEmail PreferencesHelp CenterContact Customer ServiceExplore HBRThe LatestAll TopicsMagazine ArchiveReading ListsCase SelectionsHBR ExecutivePodcastsWebinarsData & VisualsMy LibraryNewslettersHBR PressHBR StoreArticle ReprintsBooksCasesCollectionsMagazine IssuesHBR Guide SeriesHBR 20-Minute ManagersHBR Emotional Intelligence SeriesHBR Must ReadsToolsAbout HBRContact UsAdvertise with UsInformation for Booksellers/RetailersMastheadGlobal EditionsMedia InquiriesGuidelines for AuthorsHBR Analytic ServicesCopyright PermissionsAccessibilityDigital AccessibilityManage My AccountMy LibraryTopic FeedsOrdersAccount SettingsEmail PreferencesHelp CenterContact Customer ServiceFollow HBRFacebookX Corp.LinkedInInstagramYour NewsreaderHarvard Business Review LogoAbout UsCareersPrivacy PolicyCookie PolicyCopyright InformationTrademark PolicyTerms of UseHarvard Business Publishing:Higher EducationCorporate LearningHarvard Business ReviewHarvard Business SchoolCopyright ©2026 Harvard Business School Publishing. All rights reserved. Harvard Business Publishing is an affiliate of Harvard Business School.

Organizational transformations frequently encounter failure not due to a deficiency in strategic planning by leaders, but because there is a fundamental misunderstanding of how individuals experience change. This suggests that successful organizational change management requires an acute focus on the behavioral and psychological aspects of the transition, moving beyond purely strategic frameworks to address the human element involved. The resources provided, such as those from Harvard Business Review, aim to equip leaders with the necessary tools, practical strategies, and forward-looking perspectives to effectively navigate uncertainty and plan for stable future outcomes by cutting through complexity.

The insights offered by organizations like Harvard Business Review emphasize that effective management of organizational change is deeply intertwined with concepts from internal communication, digital transformation, organizational culture, organizational development, behavioral science, psychology, neuroscience, and leadership. These disciplines provide a holistic lens for understanding the complex dynamics of change that occur within an organization.

The HBR framework offers exclusive benefits designed for leaders seeking actionable guidance. These offerings include published playbooks, which provide concrete strategies and solutions derived from peer and expert experience, and on-demand masterclasses, which offer focused sessions with leading experts to enhance leadership capabilities. Furthermore, regular content delivery through the weekly Agenda newsletter and live monthly conversations allow leaders to stay apprised of the current business climate and engage in candid discussions with influential thinkers. Sophisticated tools, such as The Strategy Lab, are also available to assist C-suite executives in developing, communicating, and aligning complex business strategies.

Specifically concerning the methodology of organizational change, there is a masterclass offered with partners from Boston Consulting Group, Julia Dhar and Kristy Ellmer, which addresses the five distinct phases of organizational change. This type of educational content underscores the importance of a structured, phased approach to transformation, emphasizing that successful implementation hinges on correctly diagnosing and managing the human experience accompanying the strategic shifts. Ultimately, the focus is on providing actionable strategies that bridge the gap between high-level strategy and the lived, experiential reality of employees during transformative periods.