Change is inevitable, but successfully navigating it requires more than just good intentions. It demands a structured approach, clear communication, and a deep understanding of both the people experiencing the change and those guiding it. Zinata has been instrumental in delivering a comprehensive change management strategy for several clients—ensuring alignment, engagement, and execution. This approach has been critical in helping companies with improvement initiatives deploy technology that drives supply chain transformation.
One of the most valuable aspects of a successful change initiative is the combined perspective of the Zinata team. These collective insights provide a more holistic view of challenges, opportunities, and the true impact of change. Zinata’s Tracy Kosiarek, Principal Consultant, Dawn Garibaldi, Certified Executive Coach, and Certified Change Management Consultants, Randal Burroughs and Brianna Sawant offer a unique, combined perspective on the power of elevated change management—highlighting not only the strategic execution but also the real-world adoption that turns plans into lasting success.
A clear roadmap for success
A successful change initiative starts with a well-defined roadmap that provides clarity on execution, expectations, and outcomes. Zinata’s structured approach ensures that all stakeholders understand their roles and responsibilities, fostering alignment and accountability.
Brianna highlights the impact of this approach: “By giving the client the roadmap, timeline, and supporting documentation, we set the stage for success.”
A clear roadmap doesn’t just guide implementation—it drives consistency, minimizes disruption, and accelerates adoption. This structured approach enables a smoother execution and a repeatable framework for future improvements.
“Zinata’s philosophy of change management is not a one and done approach. Rather, we focus on equipping teams with the tools and processes they need for sustained success,” added Tracy Kosiarek.
Beyond immediate project execution, the roadmap serves as a foundation for long-term success. It instills a culture of continuous improvement, empowering teams to solve problems more effectively and drive strategic, sustainable change.
Training and preparation: The cornerstone of change
Effective training is essential to the success of any change initiative. Zinata’s approach eliminates assumptions and reinforces learning at every phase, ensuring that knowledge is absorbed, retained, and applied.
Any music executive will tell you that hit records aren’t made after just one play—the same applies to change management. Learning and reinforcement take repetition. Randal recognizes the value of this approach, noting, “We don’t assume that just because a client has experience through previous phases that there is no need for training. We start from the beginning, which is very helpful in ensuring consistency.”
By fostering an open and engaging training environment, Zinata encourages clients to ask questions, clarify concepts, and deepen their understanding. This interactive process not only builds confidence but also makes learning more enjoyable and effective.
“Training is one of my favorite parts of the change management process,” says Tracy. “We really get to know team members on another level—their day-to-day challenges, their expectations for the project, and their definition of success.”
Training isn’t a one-way lecture—it’s a dynamic conversation. Open dialogue ensures that all questions are asked and answered, creating a shared learning experience where both the customer and the partner gain valuable insights. This collaborative approach makes training not just impactful but also engaging and fun.
And, of course, with open conversations come personal stories. These moments help team members and partners connect on a deeper level—sometimes through lessons, sometimes through laughter. After a few tall tales, you might hear someone joke that what happens in training stays in training—but that’s far from true. The lessons learned don’t just stick; they’re shared, applied, and celebrated long after the session ends.
Collaboration: A key driver of success
Change management is never a solo endeavor. To go back to the music analogy, you need the whole orchestra to make a song come to life. True success comes from strong collaboration across teams, ensuring that improvements are not only implemented but also sustained over time.
Zinata provides the structure and guidance that allows clients to advance their change initiatives while continuing to support daily business operations. This balance is where many organizations struggle—too often, improvement efforts stall because teams are stuck firefighting immediate issues. Not with Zinata clients. As Tracy notes, “It’s critical our clients are able to support the business while moving the project forward—we help to efficiently and effectively manage the change initiatives to leave time for the day-to-day.”
Dawn understands that business doesn’t pause for change—it must evolve while staying operational. “Creating awareness among leadership about their role in staying connected and engaged with all individuals (including themselves) as the change progresses is critical to success.” With clear expectations and structured collaboration, teams can successfully drive improvements while still managing their day-to-day responsibilities. The following graphic effectively highlights the roles of everyone involved in this process.
As Randal puts it, “What we leave our client endures. When a client takes a concept we’ve shared and makes it their own, it’s magic!”
At its core, effective collaboration proves that while technology can enable change, real transformation happens when the right people come together to plan, execute, and sustain progress.
Change management in action
With the foundation set, execution becomes about consistency and continuous improvement. Zinata provides a structured methodology that helps clients maintain momentum. It’s robust but not rigid – open to the specific needs and timeframes of the customer. Zinata works with clients to improve their change management capabilities and ensurethe following:
- Align leadership on a clear definition of project success.
- Identify who is impacted by the change, and how they are impacted.
- Assess individual readiness for change using the Prosci ADKAR model (Awareness, Desire, Knowledge, Ability, Reinforcement) through surveys and structured reviews.
- Monitor and enhance overall project health on an ongoing basis.
- Track adoption metrics and celebrate success.
By leveraging Zinata’s guidance, clients not only successfully implement change but also embed it into the organization’s culture. This structured approach supports the ADKAR model to ensure long-term success:
Additionally, involving operational directors in the process brings valuable perspectives and strengthens advocacy. Tracy echoes this sentiment: “Every team member brings something to the table. A shared collection of experiences and perspectives creates powerful outcomes.”
When done right, change management isn’t just about executing a plan—it’s about creating a culture where continuous improvement is second nature, and success is both measurable and lasting.
The lasting impact of Zinata’s change management approach
Zinata doesn’t just implement change; we empower organizations to sustain it. Our methodology ensures that leadership is aligned, impacted individuals are prepared, and adoption metrics are continuously tracked. More importantly, we leave clients with enduring tools and skills that extend beyond the engagement.
When a client takes Zinata’s guidance and makes it their own, the results are transformative. That’s the true magic of change management.
Ready to take your change management strategy to the next level? Let Zinata help you build a roadmap, foster collaboration, and drive successful execution. Connect with us to get started!