Short-Sighted Cost of Cutting Key Roles: Why Eliminating Change Roles can Hurt in the Long Run

When companies face financial struggles, one of the first things they often do is look for ways to cut costs. Unfortunately, this often means eliminating roles that are perceived as non-essential, such as change managers, project managers, and process engineers. While this may seem like a logical cost-saving measure in the short term, it can actually have long-term negative effects on the company's ability to succeed.

Change managers, project managers, and process engineers play important roles in ensuring that a company runs smoothly and efficiently. Change managers are responsible for implementing changes within an organization, such as new software or processes. Project managers are responsible for overseeing the planning, execution, and closing of projects, ensuring that they are completed on time, within budget, and to the satisfaction of stakeholders. Process engineers are responsible for optimizing processes to improve efficiency and reduce waste.

Eliminating these roles may seem like an easy way to cut costs, but it can actually have a number of negative consequences. For example:

1. Disruption to business processes

Without change managers and process engineers, companies may struggle to implement changes effectively. This can result in disruption to business processes, which can lead to delays, errors, and reduced productivity. Project managers are also essential to ensuring that projects are completed on time and to the satisfaction of stakeholders. Without project managers, projects may be poorly planned, executed, or completed, leading to wasted resources and lost opportunities.

1. Decreased quality

Eliminating change managers, project managers, and process engineers can also lead to decreased quality. These roles are responsible for ensuring that changes, projects, and processes are implemented in a way that maximizes efficiency, minimizes waste, and meets the needs of stakeholders. Without these roles, companies may be more likely to cut corners, leading to decreased quality and increased risk.

1. Decreased innovation

Change managers and process engineers are essential to driving innovation within a company. They are responsible for identifying areas where processes can be improved and implementing new technologies and tools. Without these roles, companies may struggle to innovate and remain competitive in an increasingly fast-paced business environment.

1. Decreased morale

Finally, eliminating roles like change managers, project managers, and process engineers can also have a negative impact on employee morale. These roles are often seen as essential to ensuring that employees have the resources they need to do their jobs effectively. Without these roles, employees may feel unsupported and undervalued, leading to decreased morale and increased turnover.

In conclusion, while eliminating roles like change managers, project managers, and process engineers may seem like an easy way to cut costs, it is actually a short-sighted approach that can have long-term negative consequences. Companies should instead focus on finding ways to optimize these roles and ensure that they are contributing to the overall success of the organization. By doing so, they can remain competitive and thrive in an increasingly challenging business environment.