# Driving Introspection: Looking Inward During Increasing Change
The past few years have been marked by novel narratives, from the pandemic to the Great Resignation to accelerated technological innovations. Concurrently, market uncertainties, compounded by supply chain disruptions and geopolitical tensions, have added external pressures, while hybrid work models and digitalization have reshaped internal landscapes.
In this dynamic environment, organizations are confronting a dual challenge: managing the impact of external forces while bolstering internal resilience. As these demands intensify and resources become strained, organizations are reevaluating their strategies to drive change amid fiscal, operational, and cultural hurdles. The past year has been a wake-up call for organizations and leadership teams, highlighting the need for a refocused approach to transformation.
The often-used refrain that “change is constant” doesn’t accurately articulate our current state. Constant change can be a slow (and manageable) drip from a faucet, but it can also be a rushing river (as the past couple of years have proved to be). Our survey data, research, and experiences delivering work for our Fortune 500 clients show this shift from a change drip to a change stream.
5X The number of enterprise change activities has increased 5x from 2016 to 2022.
Organizations must now ask: “How can we drive proactive change responses by elevating change management acumen through organizational structure and new technologies?”
To thrive in this environment where the flow of change continues to expand, organizations must embrace transformation as a true capability deeply rooted in their people and operations. The old change management playbook will no longer suffice.
# Survey Background: Charting and Championing Change
Each year, we conduct a survey to gather data on the current business environment and the factors driving change among organizations. We then analyze that data and pair it with our experience driving organizational change for clients to illuminate the people and change trends we predict will impact businesses in the coming year. Our People & Change Insights eBook aims to help leaders understand where to prioritize their efforts for the year ahead.
In our 2024 edition, we repeated several questions to track movement in trends and added new topics to address today's business challenges and innovative opportunities.
About the eBook and Survey
- Propeller’s third annual insights report
- 400+ US-based professionals surveyed, conducted by an independent survey firm
- 68% of respondents’ roles are Senior Management and above
- 59% of respondents manage change as part of their role
- Over 65% of respondents came from four functions: Information Technology, Human Resources, Operations, and Finance
- Supported by our expertise and thought leadership in change transformation
Who We Surveyed
# People & Change Survey Year-Over-Year Trends & Highlights
From the rise of technology implementation as the primary driver of change to an increased focus on DEI and culture, here are the trends we observed in our data over the past three years.
1. About 50% of respondents recognize organizational restructuring as a significant change for the last three years.
2. Technology implementation is an increasingly anticipated key change driver, rising from 41% to 63%.
3. Organizations prioritizing DEI and culture efforts have doubled over the past three years.
4. The number of significant change events organizations experience each year is increasing steadily, with a 38% rise in the past two years.
Last year, we reported that employees were experiencing increased levels of change saturation, notably due to technology transformation projects lacking long-term strategic roadmaps. Additionally, companies adapted to hybrid work options, placing significant strain on middle managers as they addressed employee concerns in new workforce models.
# The Key Workplace & Leadership Trends and Priorities for 2024
Download the 2024 People & Change Insights eBook to learn what changes are coming this year and how you can lead your organization through them.
- Insight #1: Organizational alignment activity is ever-present following the pandemic boom
- Insight #2: Employees are eager to embrace AI in the workplace but are left stranded without a clear change strategy
- Insight #3: Mature change management and leadership development help contain the disruption of increasing change activity
# Building Resilience and Embracing Constant Transformation
This year, organizations are hitting the refresh button. Over the past few years, we have seen significant changes in organizational dynamics driven by technological innovations and market shifts. As a result, the change spigot has opened from a drip to a stream of constant transformation.
Amid change saturation, companies are adapting and seeking new ways to stay ahead of the curve. They continue to capitalize on available data to improve decision-making, reposition more frequently, and innovate to proactively react to the current situation while balancing their inherent responsibilities towards employees. By leveraging their strengths and adopting a proactive approach to change, companies can not only survive but thrive and emerge resilient and prepared for whatever comes next.
