Chapter 17 — Changed-Fact Drills & Readiness Checks
Changed-Fact Drill 1 — Neutral Zone → New Beginning
Starting answer: Bridges Neutral Zone.
Changed fact: roles, policies and priorities become clear and the new way feels normal instead of mixed with the old.
New answer: New Beginning.
Why: the defining old/new ambiguity has disappeared.
Source: 543–545.
Changed-Fact Drill 2 — Sponsor → Guiding Coalition
Starting answer: Sponsor.
Changed fact: the effort becomes a cross-organizational transformation requiring a team with position power, expertise, credibility and leadership across stakeholder groups.
New answer: Guiding Coalition.
Why: coalition means system-wide guiding capacity, not simply one influential backer.
Source: 546, 553–557.
Changed-Fact Drill 3 — Relative Advantage → Trialability
Starting answer: Relative Advantage.
Changed fact: stakeholders already believe the innovation is better; the new question is whether they can safely experiment before full commitment.
New answer: Trialability.
Source: 568–569.
Changed-Fact Drill 4 — Message → Communicator
Starting condition: the message itself is strong.
Changed fact: response differs dramatically depending on whether a trusted executive sponsor or a low-credibility messenger delivers it.
Missing Table 40 element: Communicators.
Why: messenger identity is a separate design decision.
Source: 573–574.
Readiness Check 1 — Can you identify the model without its name?
- psychological transition → Bridges;
- transformation error/process → Kotter;
- D/V/F/R → Gleicher;
- adopter spread/decision → Rogers;
- message/audience/channel/metrics → Communication Planning.
The purpose is to prevent selecting a framework merely because it shares words like “vision,” “resistance” or “communication.”
Readiness Check 2 — Can one early success be both healthy and dangerous?
Yes. As a short-term win, it provides evidence and momentum. As a reason to stop, it becomes declaring victory too soon, preventing consolidation and cultural anchoring.
Source: pp. 542–575.