"The people who resist change will be confronted by the growing number of people who see that better ways are available, thanks to technology." - Bill Gates
What is a Change Agent?
A Change Agent is an individual or group of individuals who work to help a business transform itself to best fit the needs of it's market and consumers. Change Agents focus on today's changing technologies/markets to effectively help the business implement better strategies and developmental progress.
According to Education-Portal there are four important skills a change agent must have to remain successful:
1. Broad Knowledge - Keep strong ties with your industry, know what is the most sought-after elements and keep up-to-date on standards and practices. Understand that it's important to not only know about your industry, but industries and markets that are related to your own.
2. Operational/Relational Knowledge - Have strong communication skills. Be able to listen, trust, observe, and identify with your employees and consumers. Be flexible and able to handle all behaviors.
3. Sensitivity and Maturity - Be aware of your own behaviors/attitudes, and how these behaviors may impact your relationships with others. Demonstrate empathy and sensitivity with others.
4. Authenticity - Act in accordance with your beliefs and values. Work for your consumers and your company, not for yourself. Be someone others can trust to be honest and forth-right.
To keep your business growing in an over-saturated market, it's important that your company has an individual who can use these skills effectively, keeping your business informed on new market developments, while also paying attention to what methods and design choices are most popular and desired by your clients.
Are Change Agents important in the Digital Media Field?
As a young adult in the Digital Media field; being a change agent is crucial to business, because new technology and software is constantly being developed and implemented into design and web standards. It's imperative that we stay ahead-of-the-curve not only when it comes to technological advancements, but also that we pay strict attention to what elements and design choices are desired in our ever-changing market.
Being a change agent can be difficult, as you not only need to understand that things HAVE to change, but also WHY that change is important and what repercussions your business may have because of it. Though many claim to welcome change, it's often difficult to accept when it comes to turning your back on a beloved software or design-standard that is becoming outdated. Accepting change can be difficult, but it is a trait that all professionals must learn to handle to remain successful, myself included.
How badly does technology affect those in the Digital Media field?
What's interesting (and difficult) about change in this field is that one person can make it happen. One small web-design change or camera-technique that people find interesting can spark a chain-of-events that often leads to that change becoming the thing to do. For example, the 48fps filming technique Peter Jackson used in "The Hobbit" left many in the film-scene bewildered and sparked discussion on how popular that method of filming would be in the future, leading many to create films of their own using this method.
In the few years I have been in the Digital Media field we have seen major developments with software/standards, such as Adobe Flash being phased out in lieu of HTML5/CSS3 coding, the discontinuation of software such as Adobe Fireworks, and the release of new design software like Adobe Muse.
The popularity of cell-phones/ tablets isn't going away, and as these technologies grow and develop, so too will designers need to learn to develop applications and websites that can work with the new technology. I imagine that as the popularity of mobile tech rises, newer forms such as smart-watches and other wearable tech will make it onto the scene.
How do I continue to change?
Because technology is constantly being updated and revised, it is important that I remain educated on the standards and up-coming software/technology to stay knowledgeable and successful in my field. But how is that possible when new tech and software is released so consistently?
One word: Internet.
Websites that are dedicated to technology and the web, such as Gizmodo and io9 are constantly updated and a great way to learn what is new and popular in the technology/"nerd" world. Community forums such as Reddit's Technology and Graphic Design pages are also a great resource for news and discussion on all Digital Media topics.
The internet is the BEST place to find reviews for software/tech, discussions on popular design choices and implementations, and a great way to get consumer feedback/opinions on what is most important for your business.
For more information on Change Agents and why they're good for business, check the links below:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/glennllopis/2014/03/24/every-leader-must-be-a-change-agent-or-face-extinction/
http://www.themanager.org/Strategy/change_agent.htm
Being a change agent can be difficult, as you not only need to understand that things HAVE to change, but also WHY that change is important and what repercussions your business may have because of it. Though many claim to welcome change, it's often difficult to accept when it comes to turning your back on a beloved software or design-standard that is becoming outdated. Accepting change can be difficult, but it is a trait that all professionals must learn to handle to remain successful, myself included.
How badly does technology affect those in the Digital Media field?
What's interesting (and difficult) about change in this field is that one person can make it happen. One small web-design change or camera-technique that people find interesting can spark a chain-of-events that often leads to that change becoming the thing to do. For example, the 48fps filming technique Peter Jackson used in "The Hobbit" left many in the film-scene bewildered and sparked discussion on how popular that method of filming would be in the future, leading many to create films of their own using this method.
In the few years I have been in the Digital Media field we have seen major developments with software/standards, such as Adobe Flash being phased out in lieu of HTML5/CSS3 coding, the discontinuation of software such as Adobe Fireworks, and the release of new design software like Adobe Muse.
The popularity of cell-phones/ tablets isn't going away, and as these technologies grow and develop, so too will designers need to learn to develop applications and websites that can work with the new technology. I imagine that as the popularity of mobile tech rises, newer forms such as smart-watches and other wearable tech will make it onto the scene.
How do I continue to change?
Because technology is constantly being updated and revised, it is important that I remain educated on the standards and up-coming software/technology to stay knowledgeable and successful in my field. But how is that possible when new tech and software is released so consistently?
One word: Internet.
Websites that are dedicated to technology and the web, such as Gizmodo and io9 are constantly updated and a great way to learn what is new and popular in the technology/"nerd" world. Community forums such as Reddit's Technology and Graphic Design pages are also a great resource for news and discussion on all Digital Media topics.
The internet is the BEST place to find reviews for software/tech, discussions on popular design choices and implementations, and a great way to get consumer feedback/opinions on what is most important for your business.
For more information on Change Agents and why they're good for business, check the links below:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/glennllopis/2014/03/24/every-leader-must-be-a-change-agent-or-face-extinction/
http://www.themanager.org/Strategy/change_agent.htm
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