The challenge for IT is to successfully manage change in a rapidly evolving environment. Here are several common challenges that I believe you must understand and manage in order to facilitate change:

Company politics. Understanding the political tenor of your organization is imperative if you are to foment change successfully. I find that, in general, the level of corporate politics is directly related to the size and age of the company. The larger and older a company, the greater the political gamesmanship. But every company has some measure of politics.

If you suspect that the powers that be are change-averse for political reasons, think about the dynamics of listening: How many times have you tried to tell family members something, only to have it fall on deaf ears? When someone outside the family makes the same suggestion, your family listens and responds while you scratch your head.

This rule also applies to corporations. People are more inclined to listen to the voice of an outsider than to that of a company employee. For that reason, I find that engaging consultants is an excellent way to neutralize company politics and initiate change. Consultants are not expected to play politics and generally have an easier time being honest and forthright. Since co-workers don't have an emotional connection to the consultant, they are more inclined to listen and be receptive to the recommendations that are given.

Degree of change. It is important to know where your company is on the technology scale and understand exactly what change you hope to implement. The bigger the change, the harder the road to success and the more fraught with danger the journey.