The change of change: change management 1.0–5.0

Purpose The purpose of this article is to explain what “change management” is and how it has evolved. In some cases, change management is criticized as a “tautology.” However, this view is contrasted by a broad change management debate, which raises the question of where “change” begins if every form of management were “change,” i.e. a tautology. It also asks why change management is described as “linear and plannable” on the one hand but “messy” on the other. Design/methodology/approach If these different views are not to be marked as true or false in principle, there are situations or phases in which they may apply or were temporary. Therefore, in the following, an ordering literature reflection along temporal phases will be carried out to work out differences or developments in change management. Findings If change management is arranged chronologically, focal points emerge with phases of change management 1.0–5.0. They show a “tautological change phase” (Change 1.0), which is later followed by a “messy phase” (Change 3.0). The eras are basically shaped by the evolving opportunities and demands of value creation. Originality/value The breadth and depth of the change management debate is divided into time- and principle-driven phases from Change Management 1.0 to 5.0, which centrally depend on evolving requirements and opportunities for value creation. Smart Management looks ahead to the era of digital-autonomous, self-controlling change management 5.0.