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Each population of constituents from the pie chart is described as some mix of four groups: - Innovators - Early Adopters - Late Adopters - Resistors Emphasis is placed on determining how normal the populations is.
For example, is there a normal population mix of 15% Innovators, 35% Early Adopters, 35% Late Adopters, and 15% Resistors? Or is the population skewed in some fashion (Example: a larger block of Resistors and lasted Adopters due to failures in the past)? Uses: With this tool, the team becomes more focused in its analysis and more pointed in its discussion of the nature of the support and resistance to the change initiative.
The emphasis shifts to an analysis of the range of support or resistance within each group of key constituents.
How To Steps: 1.
Select one of the groups impacted by the change initiative from the pie chart analysis.
2.
Have each member of the team draw a Population Chart indicating how he/she perceives the group members' attitude toward the change effort.
If necessary, clarify what each piece of the piece of the population means (example: Innovators = Those who will readily endorse this change initiative and work on behalf of the team; Early Adopters = while not first in line, this population will quickly follow the lead of others and actively support the change initiative; Late Adopters = while not necessarily hostile or overtly resistant, this population will lag behind in terms of actively supporting the change initiative; resistors = will actively and openly resist the change initiative.
3.
Share individual charts and work to reach consensus on how the population actually looks.
If significant differences of opinions exist within the team, it may be useful to seek another perspective, perhaps even from some members of the population under construction.
4.
At a minimum, the team should check their perceptions and assumptions about the population with others outside the team before accepting this chart as the correct view of the population.
5.
OPTION: Use this population charting process to uncover the attitudes of specific individuals within a population.
If the team chooses to use the tool in this fashion, the discussion should include a debate about where each individual status is for the change effort to be successful (example: a late adopter may only need to be helped to not become a resistor).
Timing: Should occur relatively early on in the process of mobilizing commitment or in response to a clear signal of consensus within the group that there are one or more groups of significant stakeholders whose support must be gained.
Tips: Using this tool can help a team warm up to the value of a debate about the nature of resistance.
Once begun, this type of analysis can quickly lead to more pointed discussions of who are the supporters and who are the resistors.
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