Stages of Concern Since the people affected by the change are the most important factor in an innovation, it is important to relate to these people at their level of concern. The CBAM identifies seven Stages of Concern that people pass through as they experience innovation. The lowest level is no concern, while the highest level takes the innovation to a new level in which a new hybrid innovation may actually begin to emerge. These seven Stages of Concern and common expressions related to each stage are presented below. Stage of Concern Expression of Concern 0. Awareness I am not concerned about it. 1. Informational I would like to know more about it. 2. Personal How will using it affect me? 3. Management I seem to be spending all my time getting materials ready. 4. Consequence How is my use affecting learners? How can I refine it to have more impact? 5. Collaboration How can I relate what I am doing to what others are doing? 6. Refocusing I have some ideas about something that would work even better. Adapted from Hord, Shirley M., William L. Rutherford, Leslie Huling-Austin, and Gene E. Hall. Taking Charge of Change. Austin, TX: Southwest Educational Development Laboratory. (1987). Much like the stages of the ACOT™ continuum, movement through the Stages of Concern cannot be forced, but a change facilitator can provide support to assist people along the way. A lack of assistance or the wrong kind of support can be detrimental to the success of an innovation. Participant concerns are affected by Their feelings about an innovation Their perception of their ability to use it The setting in which the change occurs The number of changes in which they are involved and, Most important, the support and assistance they receive as they attempt to implement change