IT platform change management: Implementing iPad platform change in pharmaceutical sales

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to gain an end to end IT platform change management mapping result against Kotter’s change model as a framework. With increasing interest on mobile platform that will drive productivity within the organization, many companies are adding a new mobile device on top of the existing Windows laptops. While Pharmaceutical industry had several cases of complete change over trials(moving on to iPad and removing laptops) recently, it seems there has been no specific study how those changes could be managed successfully. A leading pharmaceutical company’s iPad adoption case was reviewed with case study methodology against Kotter’s change model. The mapping result showed good mapping evidences for each step and this test result could provide “how” to manage the holistic IT platform changes more successfully in a rapidly changing environment with emerging trend of mobility and IT commoditization represented by Software as a Service especially to IT professionals. The study also adds value in terms of providing a thorough review with end to end - close to 2 years - case study upon Kotter’s change management model which has been popular to practitioners since its publications - as an article in Harvard Business Review in 1995 and as a book, Leading Change in 1996.