Kotter 8-Step Change Model
John Kotter's process for leading organisational change: eight steps from urgency to anchoring change in the culture, first set out in Harvard Business Review in 1995 and broadened in Accelerate (2014) into eight concurrent accelerators, four change principles and a volunteer network running alongside the hierarchy. Rebuilt from Kotter's own article and Kotter Inc.'s publications as the practices a change programme can evidence.
Kotter 8-Step Change Model is a compliance framework from International with 2 domains and 13 controls that map to 6 other frameworks. The largest domains are The eight steps (accelerators) for leading change – Kotter 8-Step Change Model (8 controls), Change leadership principles and the dual operating system – Kotter 8-Step Change Model (5 controls). Every control below carries what it requires and what an assessor expects to see.
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Framework Domains (2)
Change leadership principles and the dual operating system – Kotter 8-Step Change Model
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| kotter-8-step-change-model::P1 | Principle: management and leadership |
| kotter-8-step-change-model::P2 | Principle: head and heart |
| kotter-8-step-change-model::P3 | Principle: have to and want to |
| kotter-8-step-change-model::P4 | Principle: select few and diverse many |
| kotter-8-step-change-model::P5 | Dual operating system: a volunteer network alongside the hierarchy |
The eight steps (accelerators) for leading change – Kotter 8-Step Change Model
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| kotter-8-step-change-model::S1 | Step 1: Create a sense of urgency around a big opportunity |
| kotter-8-step-change-model::S2 | Step 2: Build a powerful guiding coalition |
| kotter-8-step-change-model::S3 | Step 3: Form a strategic vision and initiatives |
| kotter-8-step-change-model::S4 | Step 4: Communicate the vision and enlist a volunteer army |
| kotter-8-step-change-model::S5 | Step 5: Enable action by removing barriers |
| kotter-8-step-change-model::S6 | Step 6: Plan for and generate short-term wins |
| kotter-8-step-change-model::S7 | Step 7: Sustain acceleration: consolidate improvements and produce more change |
| kotter-8-step-change-model::S8 | Step 8: Institute change by anchoring new approaches in the culture |
Your Compliance Coverage
If you comply with Kotter 8-Step Change Model, you already cover:
LEADS in a Caring Environment
38%
8 controls mapped
Compare →NHS Healthcare Leadership Model
19%
4 controls mapped
Compare →ISO 37000:2021
14%
3 controls mapped
Compare →+ 3 more: COSO Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) (10%), Argyris Double-Loop Learning (10%)
See all 6 mapped frameworks ↓Maps to 6 other frameworks
Coverage is not the same as your position
This page shows what Kotter 8-Step Change Model overlaps with in general. Where your organisation actually stands, against the standard you are going for and the certifications you already hold, is a different question. Same graph and the same recorded refutations, scoped to you rather than to a pair.
The Compliance Position Diagnostic, $5,000 fixed, ten business daysWhat is Kotter 8-Step Change Model and who does it apply to?
Kotter 8-Step Change Model is a compliance framework from International with 2 domains and 13 controls. John Kotter's process for leading organisational change: eight steps from urgency to anchoring change in the culture, first set out in Harvard Business Review in 1995 and broadened in Accelerate (2014) into eight concurrent accelerators, four change principles and a volunteer network running alongside the hierarchy. Rebuilt from Kotter's own article and Kotter Inc.'s publications as the practices a change programme can evidence. It is used by organisations to establish and maintain compliance with industry standards and regulatory requirements.
What does Kotter 8-Step Change Model actually require?
Kotter 8-Step Change Model has 13 controls organised across 2 domains. The largest domains are The eight steps (accelerators) for leading change – Kotter 8-Step Change Model (8 controls), Change leadership principles and the dual operating system – Kotter 8-Step Change Model (5 controls). Each control defines specific requirements that organisations must implement to achieve compliance.
If I already comply with another framework, how much of Kotter 8-Step Change Model do I already cover?
Kotter 8-Step Change Model maps to 6 other compliance frameworks. The top mapping partners are LEADS in a Caring Environment (38% coverage), NHS Healthcare Leadership Model (19% coverage), ISO 37000:2021 (14% coverage). Use our comparison tool to explore control-level mappings between frameworks.
How do I implement Kotter 8-Step Change Model?
Start your Kotter 8-Step Change Model compliance journey by running a self-assessment on our platform to identify your current compliance posture. Our AI advisory can answer specific questions about Kotter 8-Step Change Model requirements, and cross-framework mapping helps you leverage existing controls from other frameworks you may already comply with. Create a free account to access all 13 controls and track your progress.
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