ACMP Global CCMP - Certified Change Management Professional

If stakeholders are unclear about their roles and expected behaviors, the root issue often lies in acommunication plan that failed to build awareness. ACMP outlines communication outcomes as building awareness, creating understanding, and enabling action. A weak communication plan may not have clarified“what does this mean for me?”Stakeholder engagement (A) focuses on involvement, not awareness; business case (C) supports rationale but not role clarity. Feedback requirements (B) affect monitoring, not communication. Therefore, the gap is explained by a communication plan deficiency.

(Reference: ACMP Standard, Process Group 4 – Execute Communications; Outcomes: Awareness, understanding, and role clarity.)

Sponsorship strategy identifieswho owns the changeand clarifiesaccountabilityfor adoption and benefits. ACMP stresses connecting initiatives to executive owners who can authorize, remove barriers, and model commitment. Budget support is vital, but the sponsorship task primarily establishesownership and accountabilityfor outcomes. (Reference:ACMP Standard, Process Group 2 – Formulate Strategy; Sponsorship Strategy & Plan: define sponsors, accountabilities, engagement/visibility expectations.)

ACMP emphasizes the importance of definingclear goals, objectives, and criteria for successbefore rolling out change. These provide atangible and measurable baselinefor tracking progress and adoption. Success criteria guide communications, training, resistance management, and sponsor accountability. While alignment to strategy (C) and stakeholder commitment (A) are important, they are broader considerations. Accountability (D) is part of sponsorship planning. The key purpose is to establishmeasurable progress indicatorsto ensure the change achieves adoption and intended outcomes.

(Reference: ACMP Standard, Process Group 2 – Formulate; Activity: Identify goals, objectives, and criteria for success.)

Subject matter expertise is aresource requirement. If expertise is unavailable, theresource planis impacted, since this plan defines roles, skills, and availability required to support the change. Risk mitigation (B) may eventually address consequences, but the direct plan affected is the resource plan. Learning (A) and sustainability (D) come later, after execution and adoption.

(Reference: ACMP Standard, Process Group 3 – Develop Resource Plan; Identify skill requirements, assign resources, and address gaps in expertise.)

Once roles are defined, the next step is conducting askill gap analysis. ACMP emphasizes this activity to identify whether existing staff possess the competencies required or if additional training, hiring, or external support is needed. Risk assessment (A) and readiness (D) are broader evaluations, while sponsorship planning (C) focuses on leadership. To align resources with capability needs,skill gap analysisis the correct follow-up.

(Reference: ACMP Standard, Process Group 1 – Evaluate; Activity: Conduct skill gap analysis after defining roles.)

Readiness is about thecurrent state of people and the organization—beliefs, understanding, and capacity—to adopt the future state. ACMP recommends assessingperception gapsbetween leaders and the broader organization to calibrate approach, communications, and risk. Leader history or business case rigor are contextual, but the readiness linchpin is theexpectation–perception gap. (Reference:ACMP Standard, Process Group 1 – Readiness Assessment; Activities: Assess stakeholder sentiment, comprehension, and alignment gaps.)

ACMP emphasizes that resistance is most effectively reduced when people understandwhythe change is necessary andhowit affects their roles (“what’s in it for me”). The Standard situates resistance management within execution, calling for targeted communications that buildawarenessof the business rationale and provideimpact-basedinformation to individuals and groups. Training and rumor management matter, but they are secondary to establishing awareness and personal impact clarity—the core precursors to willingness and adoption. (Reference:ACMP Standard for Change Management®, Process Group 4 – Execute the Change Management Plan; Activities: Manage Resistance; Communications aligned to impact; Linkage to Process Group 1 impact assessment & WIIFM messaging.)

Closure requiresformal transfer of outcomesto operational owners. ACMP explains this ensures sustainability by embedding responsibility into business operations. Business operations planning (A), surveys (C), and education plans (D) may support continuity, but the required condition for closure is documented transfer of ownership. Without this, the change may revert or fail to sustain. Thus, option B aligns with ACMP best practices.

(Reference: ACMP Standard, Process Group 5 – Close; Activity: Transfer ownership of outcomes to operational resources.)

Definingsuccess criteria and measures to track progressis the essence of ameasurement and benefits realization strategy. ACMP defines this plan as a framework for identifying metrics, assigning accountability, and monitoring progress toward adoption and benefits. Sustainability (B) focuses on reinforcement after adoption, while evaluation strategies (C, D) are generic terms not part of the ACMP Standard. Thus, option A is the accurate and standard-aligned choice.

(Reference: ACMP Standard, Process Group 3 – Measurement and Benefits Realization Plan; Purpose: Define success criteria and measures to track adoption.)

ACMP distinguishes between incremental and transformational change.Transformational change, particularly when it requires cultural shifts, causes the greatest disruption because it challenges organizational norms, values, and long-standing behaviors. New technology (D) or role changes (B) can be significant but typically occur within existing frameworks. Incremental changes (A) are small and evolutionary. Thus,transformational change with culture changeis the most disruptive.

(Reference: ACMP Standard, Introduction; Defines transformational change as a high-impact shift involving culture and behaviors, creating greater disruption than technical or incremental adjustments.)