Who this is for: Users who can edit an initiative
By default, an impact shows on the Change Impact heatmap at the initiative's target go-live date. Set start and end dates on an impact when people will feel the change at a different time, such as during a phased roll-out or across several go-lives.
How impact dates change the heatmap
With At go live, each impact is shown in the period of the initiative's target go-live date, even if people feel it earlier or later:
With Choose dates, the colours on the heatmap follow each impact's actual start and end dates, giving a more accurate picture of when and where change is felt.
Set dates for an impact
- Open the initiative and choose Impacts.
- Click Add impact, or open the impact you want to change.
- Where you choose when the impact affects the audience, select Choose dates instead of At go live (the default).
- Enter the start and end dates for the impact.
- Save.
You can also set start and end dates for many impacts at once by importing them from the Excel template.
When to use date ranges
- Initiatives with several phases, for example an intrusive discovery phase, or communications and training that ramp up over time.
- Initiatives with multiple deployments or go-lives.
- Phased roll-outs or overlapping changes.
To expand an org group on the heatmap and see the teams beneath it, see Generate the Change Impact Heatmap.
Related articles
Still stuck?
Email support@changeplan.co with a screenshot of what you see, and we'll help.
Last updated: 21 October 2026