The CeMENT project: a case study in change management

Abstract

The Community Based Medical Education in North Thames (CeMENT) Project case study is a useful approach to analysing complex change facing the medical profession and all medical teachers. The project was a collaboration involving five North London medical schools to develop the community-based aspects of the undergraduate medical curriculum. The project management team was drawn from academic general practitioners, hospital specialists with expertise in medical education, and education. Complex change involving partnerships across organizational and functional boundaries is often extremely challenging in terms of coordination and management owing to its unpredictability and ownership problems. Success in change management could be enhanced by use of a framework that includes a clear statement of purpose, stakeholder concordance and trust, clear leadership and structures, and fast action together with recognition of achievements.