Who this is for: Change managers, initiative owners and project leads sizing a new initiative.
The Change Effort Assessment is a 12-question diagnostic that gives a quick, high-level read on how much change support an initiative needs. Use it at the start of an initiative, and again whenever the scope changes, so you can prioritise resources and spot initiatives that collide.
What it measures
The 12 questions cover two dimensions (your admin may have renamed them):
Dimension | Questions | What it looks at |
Scale of change | 1–6 | How big the change is: complexity, dependencies and how much is changing |
Stakeholder readiness risk | 7–12 | How ready the affected people are: coordination needs, skills, tools and leadership support |
Each question has five options on a scale. Options on the left (green) mean less change support is needed; options on the right (red) mean more.
Complete the assessment
- Open the initiative. If Initiative setup is still showing on the dashboard, click Assess change effort. Otherwise, click Change Effort in the initiative's left menu.
- Answer each of the 12 questions. Read the helper text under each question to guide a consistent answer. If your admin has switched on AI suggestions, the suggested option is outlined in purple; you can accept it or choose another.
- When you've answered all 12, ChangePlan calculates a size (Small, Medium, Large or Extra Large) and plots the initiative on a heat map.
- Review your responses and change any answer. The size and heat map update straight away.
- Download the PowerPoint summary if you want to share the result.
If you already know the size, you can set it manually instead. Use revert to the assessed size to go back to the size based on your answers.
For a full walkthrough of the questions and the PowerPoint output, see Initiative Setup — User Guide.
See change effort across initiatives
Every initiative you assess appears on the Change Effort heat map under Reports in the left menu. It shows where each initiative sits on the two dimensions, the mix of Small to Extra Large initiatives, and when initiatives go live alongside their change effort. You can filter it, for example by portfolio. Learn more in Change Effort Heatmap.
Use the heat map to:
- Prioritise resources: focus support on the largest initiatives.
- Avoid overload: spot audiences facing several large changes at once, or initiatives that collide.
- Sequence work: consider delaying overlapping high-effort initiatives.
How long it takes
Most assessments take a few minutes once you know the project. Larger changes deserve more discussion:
Likely size | Typical change | Suggested time | Notes |
Small | Minor process or comms change, single group | 15–30 mins | Quick review |
Medium | Moderate change, some dependencies | 30–60 mins | Input from team leads helps |
Large | Cross-functional, new tools or behaviours | 1–2 hours | Run a workshop |
Extra Large | Strategic or enterprise-wide change | 2–4 hours over several sessions | Validate as you go |
Examples
Initiative | Description | Likely result | Why |
CRM system roll-out | Replacing the old system, training 5 departments | High effort | Complex data migration and multi-team training |
Cybersecurity uplift | New MFA roll-out, legacy system integration | Medium to high effort | Technical complexity and a wide user base |
Org chart refresh | Update to reporting lines and titles | Low to medium effort | Simple change, but it touches many people |
HR policy update | Shift to hybrid work, minor procedural change | Low effort | Few stakeholders and simple comms |
Tips
- Score it together. Involve the project lead and change lead.
- Don't wait for certainty. Draft a first pass early and update it as you learn more. For example, a software roll-out may look small until interviews reveal bigger behaviour changes.
- Reassess after scope changes, and compare the result with your impacts and risks.
- Pair effort with impact and risk. A high-effort, low-impact initiative may not be worth pursuing.
Common questions
Who should complete the assessment?
Usually the change lead or initiative owner, with help from project managers or team leads.
Can I change the result later?
Yes. Reopen Change Effort from the initiative's left menu at any time.
Can admins change the questions?
Yes. Admins can edit question text, helper text, option labels and dimension names in Settings. See the admin section of Initiative Setup — User Guide.
Related articles
Still stuck?
Email support@changeplan.co with a screenshot of what you see, and we'll help.
Last updated: 21 October 2026