ACMP Global CCMP - Certified Change Management Professional

Thechange impact and readiness strategysets out thescope, approach, and responsibilitiesfor evaluating how the change will affect the organization and preparing stakeholders. ACMP specifies this as part of strategy formulation, feeding into detailed planning. Stakeholder engagement and learning strategies are developed later, and measurement focuses on outcomes, not readiness. Thus, option C best represents the formal strategy that governs impact analysis and readiness planning.

(Reference: ACMP Standard, Process Group 2 – Formulate; Change Impact and Readiness Strategy.)

If an initiative suffers from low support and engagement, it signals a failure in theoverall change management strategy. ACMP emphasizes that the strategy must address sponsorship, stakeholder engagement, communication, and readiness. Interventions should begin by reviewing and strengthening thechange management strategy(option B) to re-align with organizational goals and re-engage stakeholders. Risk, communication, and stakeholder strategies are components, but the overarchingchange strategydefines how all are coordinated to regain momentum.

(Reference: ACMP Standard, Process Group 2 – Formulate Change Management Strategy; Outcome: Define integrated strategy for adoption and benefits realization.)

ACMP emphasizes that communications are most effective when tailored toaudience trust. For personal questions like “What’s in it for me?”, employees expect to hear from theirdirect supervisors, who understand their roles, daily work, and concerns. Executives are the best senders of enterprise-level “why” messages, and the change management team ensures consistency of strategy. HR provides procedural clarity but lacks the direct authority over daily impact. Thus,supervisors are the preferred sendersfor WIIFM communication.

(Reference: ACMP Standard, Process Group 4 – Execute Plan; Communications activities: Define senders/receivers for message types; Linkage to stakeholder analysis and impact assessment.)

Themeasurement and benefits realization planis not just about tracking adoption but about using measures tosignal gapsandtrigger corrective actionwhen benefits are not being realized. ACMP directs practitioners to monitor KPIs and adoption metrics, compare against targets, and recommend mitigation actions when deviations occur. While rewards (C) and adoption measures (D) are outcomes, the primary intended outcome is ensuringearly detection of issues and activation of mitigation strategiesto safeguard benefits realization.

(Reference: ACMP Standard, Process Group 4 – Execute; Develop and execute measurement and benefits realization plan; Activities: Define metrics, monitor results, recommend mitigation.)

If customers indicate lack of readiness, the change manager mustadjust executionof the plan. This may involveslowing rollout, extending training, or revising communicationsuntil readiness increases. ACMP stresses flexibility during execution, making real-time adjustments based on feedback and adoption data. Modifying readiness assessment (B) is retrospective, not corrective. Feedback mechanisms (A) and measurement (D) are tools for detection, not immediate corrective action. Therefore,execution adjustmentsare required to align with stakeholder readiness.

(Reference: ACMP Standard, Process Group 4 – Execute; Activities: Monitor adoption and adjust implementation as required based on readiness feedback.)

To ensure alignment with its vision of being socially responsible, leaders shouldadjust the change management planas needed — adding, eliminating, or realigning components. ACMP highlights that plans are dynamic and must evolve to remain consistent with organizational values and vision. While communication (C), measurement (D), and reinforcement (B) are valuable, the comprehensive approach is torealign the plan itselfto reinforce vision consistency.

(Reference: ACMP Standard, Process Group 3 – Develop Plan; Guidance: Adjust plans as necessary to align with organizational vision and strategic priorities.)

Thechange management leadis accountable for ensuring change management activities are properly coordinated, applied, and monitored. While sponsors provide leadership and stakeholders participate, the change management lead ensures integration of plans, tracks progress, and adjusts activities as needed. Change agents support by influencing peers, but they are not accountable for overall coordination. ACMP clearly defines thechange lead’s role as orchestrator of the processacross all groups.

(Reference: ACMP Standard, Process Groups 2–5; Role of Change Lead: Develop, coordinate, execute, and monitor change management activities.)

Thelearning and development strategyis designed to close competency gaps by identifying and addressing the skills, knowledge, and behaviors stakeholders need to adopt the change. According to ACMP, this plan includes training design, coaching, and knowledge transfer activities that prepare individuals for the future state. Stakeholder engagement (B) ensures participation, impact and readiness (C) measure preparedness, and communications (D) raise awareness. However, the plan that directlycloses the competency gapis option A.

(Reference: ACMP Standard, Process Group 3 – Learning and Development Plan; Purpose: Equip stakeholders to build competencies required in the future state.)

Formal closure of a change management effort requiresapproval from the senior sponsor. This ensures the accountable executive validates that outcomes were achieved, ownership transferred, and sustainability measures are in place. The project manager approves project closure, while the change lead and training lead execute tasks but do not have the authority to formally close. Thus, the sponsor’s approval is required to ensure accountability for benefits realization.

(Reference: ACMP Standard, Process Group 5 – Close; Activity: Seek formal sponsor approval for closure.)

Stakeholder analysis reveals who is impacted, their level of influence, and their readiness. ACMP specifies this analysis as aninput to multiple plans, particularly:

Stakeholder engagement plan(who needs to be engaged and how),

Communication plan(what messages to whom, by whom, and when),

Training plan(who requires what type of capability development).Resistance and coaching plans also use insights, but the most direct set linked to stakeholder analysis is answer A.(Reference: ACMP Standard, Process Group 3 – Develop Plan; Inputs: Stakeholder analysis; Outputs: Stakeholder engagement, communication, and learning plans.)