Change is all about making things different. Planned change is change activities that are intentional and goal-oriented. Change agents are responsible for managing change activities in organizations. They see a future others have not identified, and they are able to motivate, invent, and implement this vision. Change agents can be managers or nonmanagers, current or new employees, or outside consultants.

Some change agents look to transform old industries to meet new capabilities and demands. Finding true change agents in long-established organizations can pose unique challenges. Many change agents fail because organizational members resist change.