One of the most fascinating components of the change management process is the change agent. The change agent, who can be a leader, manager, employee, consultant, or customer, is a person who is often at the center of the change management process and performs several critical functions in the overall process. Address the following regarding change agents:

Define the concept of a change agent, including the traits and characteristics that best represent a change agent in todays organization.
Discuss the role of a change agent in the change management process (e.g., formal or informal role, position of authority or power, etc.).
Assess how a change agent can influence the generation, direction, success, or failure of a change initiative.
Finally, assess any challenges a change agent may have in the change process (e.g., not agreeing with the change, management not truthfully sharing the repercussions of the change, etc.) and how these challenges should be addressed.

Support your submission with course material concepts, principles, and theories from the textbook and at least three scholarly, peer-reviewed journal articles.