The article presents a process model of the least formalized phase of enterprise change, in which management and all other interested parties identify a need for change, assess what change methodology is adequate to handle that change and make preparations for enacting that change process. This process is intended to be embedded in a complete enterprise engineering/ enterprise integration methodology. The aim has been to give a more detailed account of the first phase of enterprise integration, called the 'identification' phase of the enterprise life-cycle. A top level of the methodology's process is presented as a series of IDEF0 diagrams and their companion explanations, although future versions may be developed in more elaborate languages (e.g. CIMOSA modelling constructs). The original aim to develop this part of the methodology was for the method to be especially suitable for the service industry; it has been found that there was no need to be service industry specific on this level and that considerations applied equally to service and manufacturing.