A change architect is often responsible for planning out and overseeing the execution of a major transition within a given environment. The exact nature of this work, however, can depend a great deal upon the particular company or other setting in which he or she implements this process. Many companies, for example, hire a change architect to help them identify particular ways in which alterations can and should be made to their structures or operations. This often involves a period of planning, in which methodology for this change can be established, and then the actual process of facilitating this transformation can occur.
The duties and responsibilities of a change architect can vary, depending on the type of transformations he or she needs to help create. These individuals often work in a way that is somewhat similar to the efforts performed by an architect working in construction. Most architects plan out a building, such as a house or skyscraper, conceptualizing the entire structure, planning it out through drawings and models, and overseeing the work performed in its creation. Similarly, a change architect conceives of the ways in which different transformations can be implemented, creates a plan for them, and then ensures that they are carried out properly.
This means that the work of a change architect often begins with identification of a project and conceptualizing a solution. If a company needs to dramatically alter the way in which production costs are expended based on raw materials, for example, then an architect may be brought in to identify the way in which this transition may be achieved. He or she may need to first identify exactly what types of changes should occur. Once this is established, then the change architect can create a plan of action and an overall model for how it can be implemented, similar to the models and blueprints made by an architect in construction.
The change architect then oversees the “construction” of these alterations within the company or for a client. This means that he or she does not usually perform these tasks; it is often the responsibility of a client to ensure the process happens in much the same way other professionals are charged with actually constructing a building. During construction projects, an architect may need to make changes to a plan in order to improve the building, without compromising its integrity. In much the same way, a change architect may need to alter the plan during its execution; they provide a business with ongoing support that continues the process without reducing the effectiveness of its outcome.