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Change Management

The ADKAR Model of Change Management Explained

ADKAR is a change model built around a simple truth: organizations only change when individuals do. It tracks each person through five stages.

ADKAR is a change management model created by Jeff Hiatt, founder of Prosci. Its premise is that organizational change succeeds only when individuals move through five stages in order. If someone gets stuck at a stage, adoption stalls there.

In one lineADKAR tracks each person through Awareness, Desire, Knowledge, Ability, and Reinforcement.

The five stages

  1. AwarenessThe person understands why the change is happening.
  2. DesireThey are willing to support and participate in it.
  3. KnowledgeThey know how to change, including new skills and processes.
  4. AbilityThey can actually perform the new way, not just understand it.
  5. ReinforcementThe change sticks, supported by recognition and follow-up.

Why the order matters

ADKAR is diagnostic. If adoption is failing, you find the stage where people are stuck and address that specific gap. No amount of training (Knowledge) helps if people never wanted the change (Desire). The Knowledge and Ability stages are where learning and enablement do their work, and where fast, up-to-date content matters most. It pairs naturally with the organization-level Kotter model.

Key takeaways

  • ADKAR stages: Awareness, Desire, Knowledge, Ability, Reinforcement.
  • Change happens one individual at a time.
  • Use it to diagnose exactly where adoption is stuck.
  • Training addresses the Knowledge and Ability stages.

Frequently asked questions

What does ADKAR stand for?
Awareness, Desire, Knowledge, Ability, and Reinforcement, the five sequential stages an individual moves through during change.
Who created the ADKAR model?
Jeff Hiatt, founder of Prosci, developed ADKAR as a people-focused change management framework.
How is ADKAR different from Kotter's model?
ADKAR focuses on individuals moving through five stages. Kotter's 8-Step model focuses on the organization-wide sequence of leading change. They are often used together.

Related terms

Change managementKotter's 8-StepInstructional designJust-in-time learning

Last reviewed 2026-08-10. Recourse publishes these guides to help learning, customer education, and change teams. Figures and product details are drawn from public sources and vendor materials and can change.