the Five Ws of managing change

Recently, I was sent an article in which the Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV) concluded that wood was the most sustainable packaging option for fruit and vegetables with the lowest environmental impact and virtually zero water imprint in manufacturing. 

I remember times when the whole industry was told by retailers that “wood is bad” and “plastic was the only way forward”, resulting in thousands of tonnes of non-recyclable crates created.

I am not arguing for the return of nails and staples into food supply chains, but that made me think….

1.     Sometimes, we are too quick to embrace “the new” and follow new fashions without considering the consequences.

2.     We often assume that innovation is automatically an improvement. 

3.     Innovation for the sake of innovation is the best way of wasting resources.

Spending time on answering the Five Ws (who, what, when, where and why) is always the best way of managing change. Irrespective of whether you design a brand, plan on business transformation, or launch a new product, having these five answers helps.