As you implement new ideas in your classroom, school, or district, it is helpful to have a bit of an understanding of the process of change. Change is difficult for some, and exciting for others!

Complex Change Matrix

When thinking about complex change, the Complex Change Matrix from Knoster, et al. is a helpful tool often used by the CCTS team. It identifies five components that must be present for change to occur: Vision, Skills, Incentives, Resources and Action Plan. If all the components are in alignment, change occurs. If one or more of these components are missing, the result is a barrier to achieving the proposed change.

Complex Change Matrix

If a vision is not clearly established, confusion ensues.
If the people involved in the change do not feel they have the skills necessary to engage in the change, anxiety is the result.
If there are not enough incentives, resistance occurs. (Note that incentives are not always monetary. Research shows that the intrinsic incentives are more powerful than the extrinsic incentives.)
If it is felt that resources are not adequate, this results in frustration.
If there is not a clear action plan with accountability built in, there are many false starts.

This matrix can be used within existing planning processes to inform progress. It can serve to identify what is (or perceived to be) lacking when unexpected or undesirable outcomes occur. It can also provide structure when communicating with stakeholders to motivate and activate change.

Next – Setting Goals on the Student Participation Continuum