4 rooms of change

4 Rooms of Change is a proven psychological theory. We can often see how this theory is being used along with agile software development to ensure the best returns with change management. Let’s deep dive and learn more about what this psychological theory is all about.

When a software development team starts working on a new software development project, they will not be able to see the change. This is where the team will stay in the Contentment Room. The current situation will deliver a satisfying experience to all the team members. No team member will have the need or desire to change anything as well.

However, things will change along with time and this would trigger the team to move into the next room, which is the Denial Room. It becomes essential for the software development team to adapt according to the change. This is where the team would ask why it is important to adapt according to the change. Resistance to change that arises in such a situation will lead the team towards getting into the Denial Room.

Once the change is accepted, the development team would get into the Confusion Room. This is where the team goes through an emotional journey that is filled with anger, fear, and many other related emotions. That’s because the team is facing a new situation and they don’t have a clear understanding on what would happen next.

With commitment and dedication, it is possible to move to the next room, which is the Renewal Room. Everyone will have adjusted mindsets when getting into the room. In other words, they are ready to embrace the new challenges. The entire process represents the journey associated with change management in agile software development.

— Slimane Zouggari