The latest white paper from the Association of Change Management Professionals (ACMP) describes five trends that are redefining the way companies deal with change. One of the contributors of this forward-looking document was Dr. Dominik Faust, founder of viadoo GmbH. Drawing on his many years of experience in the field of human-centric change, Dominik shared his perspective on the opportunities and limitations of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Organizational Change Management (OCM). The topic became the lead theme of the paper, highlighting the growing importance of AI in enabling data-driven but emotionally intelligent change. This white paper, created with the participation of numerous experts, reflects the shared ambition of global change experts to develop the profession with stringency, innovation and empathy.
1. Revolutionizing Change Management with AI
AI is no longer an emerging tool. It is actively reshaping change management. From automating stakeholder analysis to providing real-time sentiment insights, AI is empowering change professionals to better anticipate resistance, tailor communication, and accelerate adoption. The ACMP emphasizes that while AI-driven insights are powerful, they must always augment not replace human leadership. Ethical adoption, transparency, and contextual understanding remain essential.
At the ACMP® Change Makers Unplugged Thought Leaders Roundtable, in February 2025, participiants like Dominik Faust also discussed reasons why people are still skeptical or even hostile toward AI. Among others, there is:
- fears of loosing jobs,
- fear of getting manipulated,
- lack of trust and transparency,
- high pace of AI developments
ChatGPT, Qlik, Kaiya, Power BI, Copilot
Like at viadoo, other change management professionals integrate large language models (LLM) like OpenAI’s ChatGPT into systems like Qlik to create a dashboard for trend analysis. This was then linked to their in-house project portfolio management (PPM) tool. Some are already using Prosci’s Kaiya.
Others are working on mapping out models in Microsoft Power BI to manage stakeholders and heatmaps. For them, it’s not a technical AI yet, but a way to visualize information. In order to be able to build personas and more, they are planning to connect this back to Copilot or other generative AI tool.
What Dominik and other ACMP members recommend:
- Establish AI knowledge hubs and ethics committees.
- Leverage AI-driven coaching for leadership development.
- Embed AI-assisted decision-making in change frameworks.
- Give AI a human face – like viadoo Change Guides did.
The goal: enhance human capability, not diminish it.
2. Driving Adoption in Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A)
Cultural misalignment remains the top barrier to successful M&A integration. The ACMP white paper highlights how AI can support personalized communication strategies and feedback loops that adapt in real time. But ultimately, people make the merger work – or not.
What Dominik and other ACMP members recommend:
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Train middle managers to become change leaders and cultural ambassadors.
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Apply structured change frameworks to both merging organizations.
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Embed change management into M&A playbooks early, especially for cultural integration.
Well-being, agility, and clarity must be prioritized to reduce change fatigue and foster a shared identity.
3. Advancing Change Management Through Coaching
Coaching has become a core pillar of modern change management. It empowers leaders to build emotional resilience, foster trust, and create psychologically safe environments where transformation can thrive. AI-enhanced coaching platforms can personalize development journeys, but human interaction remains central.
What Dominik and other ACMP members recommend:
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Integrate coaching programs into change initiatives at all levels.
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Promote a culture of learning through everyday coaching behaviors.
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Combine AI-assisted self-learning with emotional intelligence-based leadership coaching.
The result: organizations better equipped for continuous transformation.
4. Maximizing Impact with Metrics, Data & Dashboards
What gets measured gets managed—but only if it’s measured wisely. The ACMP paper stresses that data needs to be more than operational—it must capture emotional and behavioral shifts too. With AI-powered dashboards and predictive analytics, change teams can monitor progress in real time and proactively respond to resistance.
What Dominik and other ACMP members recommend:
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Deploy dashboards to track adoption patterns and surface emerging risks.
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Provide data literacy training for change professionals.
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Use data storytelling to make metrics meaningful for stakeholders and sponsors.
Informed decisions lead to more effective, agile change.
5. Empowering Change Through Effective Sponsorship
Sponsorship continues to be the #1 predictor of change success. Yet many sponsors still struggle with clarity, consistency, and emotional connection. The ACMP calls for structured support systems, blending AI insights with storytelling and coaching to guide sponsor behavior and deepen engagement.
What Dominik and other ACMP members recommend:
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Equip sponsors with leadership training and engagement tools.
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Monitor sponsor impact using AI-based feedback and analytics.
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Create frameworks that sustain sponsor involvement throughout the change lifecycle.
Strong sponsorship is not a formality. It’s a foundational force behind lasting transformation.
"Navigating the Future of Change Management"
This ACMP® white paper explores the key trends, tools, and strategies shaping the field in 2025 and beyond. One of the distinguished contributors was Dr. Dominik Faust, CEO of viadoo.
Author(s)
viadoo GmbH
viadoo GmbH is specialised in social and emotional aspects of changes. Like a solid Roman viaduct, we connect executives and teams (via) and help them lead transformations to success in a hands-on manner (doo). With our holistic approach and communicative methods we design change initiatives, stabilise performances of teams, inspire them to a shift of mindset, and implement trust. So that your transformation will succeed too!
