How does the CSI 2 support change management?

The Change Style Indicator (CSI) is a validated assessment tool that identifies an individual's preferred approach to change, categorising them as:

• Conservers
• Pragmatists
• Originators

By understanding these preferences, change practitioners can tailor strategies to enhance collaboration, reduce resistance, and improve the effectiveness of change initiatives. 

For example, Conservers prefer change that is incremental and focus on better utilising resources such as people, technology, capital, while preserving the existing system and structure. Continuous improvement would be their preference. In contrast, Originators prefer a faster and more radical approach to change. Their goal is likely to be challenging existing systems and structure – they look to reengineer in order to improve efficiency and effectiveness.

Knowing the preference of people within a team who are tasked with implementing change, provides insight into how they will approach it. The CSI provides an extensive list of characteristics of the three change styles.

In addition, the CSI provides insight into how the different “preferences” perceive each other and how they can best communicate with each other to achieve workable outcomes.