Strategic considerations for planning major transitions

Effectively planning an organization's transition through a major change, such as from an R&D environment to one of operations, involves many considerations. During a 6-year period, a research team at the University of Houston was charged with finding ways and means of aiding the National Space Transportation System (NSTS) in becoming more operational in nature. While the underlying research effort was geared for the space shuttle program, the conclusions can be applied to any organization undergoing significant changes. This article outlines important points and key areas that an organization should consider as it plans and implements a transition program. The basis for this article includes interviews with top managers of technical companies, results of a questionnaire on transition management sent to numerous Fortune 500 companies, and the literature on the management of change. Throughout the article, a suggested strategy of the proposed movement of NSTS will be referred to as an example of an organization undergoing a major change.