How do I create a Transition Plan for my Organisation?

Test your transition plan out on friends

A Transition Plan is used to manage the change from an existing organisational state to a new state.

Time needed: 1 hour.

How to create a transition plan for your organisation:

Set your timeframe
When does it start, how long, when does it finish?
Describe the starting state
Where are you now?
Describe the target state
Where do you want to be when the transition is finished?
Describe the areas that will undergo transition
e.g. Product, Management, HR, Comms, Process, Location, Supply, Technology, Market, etc.
List the tasks in each area
For each area of transition, what are the high-level transition tasks? Don’t be too granular.
Show the risk levels
If there are areas that are risky, call them out. It helps if everyone is focused on the areas that need careful attention.
Add checkpoints and milestones
Measurable targets, on the plan, help to focus the team and also to provide status checks along the way.
Test it on your friends
Show your transition plan to a friend, and see if they understand it. Give them five minutes to read it, then ask them questions to see if they were able to understand it.

Transition Planning FAQs

What’s the best format for a Transition Plan?

Through experience from hundreds of transition projects, we recommend a Transition Roadmap format, so that you can show the important plans on 1 side of A4 (or 1 Powerpoint slide). Transition Plan Powerpoint Template

How many swim lanes should I have in my transition plan?

Try and keep it to 5 swim lanes (workstreams) or less. If you have too many lanes, the diagram gets complicated, and your message is no longer clear.

Should I show risk levels on my Transition Plan?

Yes. It is healthy to highlight the areas of risk for your teams and stakeholders, so that they can prepare -for and manage the risk.

How do I test my Transition Plan?

Test it out on a friend. Give them 5 minutes to read it, then ask them a series of questions; e.g. “When does the project start?”, “What are the riskiest parts?”, and “Who is in charge of the HR workstream?”

We have created this Transition Plan Template in response to a series of requests for a Timeline template to assist with Change Management.

A screenshot of the Transition Plan Template — This Transition Plan Template will assist you with your Transition Timeline

We have arranged this template into the following areas.

Team and Personnel Changes

It’s likely that you will have to change how people and teams are arranged.

New processes

There could be some business process re-engineering to be rolled-out.

Relocation

You may have to move locations, or start an off-shore supplier relationship.

Starting state and end state

In all change situations, there is a gap between the planned new arrangement and where you are right now – a Transition is required.

Our Transition Plan Template will provide a solid communications and planning tool for your transition.

Features of the transition plan template

Timeline with draggable milestones.
Event markers in each workstream.
Management workstream (to show coordination activities in the transition project).
Communications Workstream (announcements, comms).
HR Workstream (transition HR issues management).
Relocation Workstream.
IT Workstream (PC and telecomms).

View the Transition Plan Template.