Studies consistently show that organizational change initiatives fail at a high rate—often around 70%. This figure has been cited by influential thinkers like John Kotter and supported by research from McKinsey & Company and Harvard Business Review.
However, it’s worth noting that some recent analyses question the precision of that number. While the 70% figure is widely accepted as a benchmark, newer studies suggest the actual failure rate may vary depending on how “failure” is defined—whether it’s total collapse, partial success, or failure to meet original goals.
Still, the takeaway is clear: most change efforts struggle, and the reasons are often rooted in human dynamics—resistance, poor communication, lack of leadership alignment, and cultural inertia.
If you’re planning a change initiative, I can help you design a strategy that avoids the common pitfalls. Want to explore that?
- https://www.forbes.com/sites/lisabodell/2022/03/28/most-change-initiatives-fail—heres-how-to-beat-the-odds/
- https://changestrategists.com/change-management-failure-statistics-explained/
- https://professional.dce.harvard.edu/blog/7-reasons-why-change-management-strategies-fail-and-how-to-avoid-them/
- https://www.imd.org/research-knowledge/transition/articles/10-reasons-why-organizational-change-fails/