Today s turbulent business environment demands speedy and paradigmatic changes. To meet these challenges, organizations are adopting competency-based people-management models as a response to the need for greater individual commitment and as an important strategy for gaining a competitive edge (Dutra, 2004). This study analyzes the implementation of such competency-based models and their meaning for organizational change, as signaled by the communication initiatives the companies adopted, from the perspective of different theoretical frameworks (Weick, 1999; Klein, 1996; Ford & Ford, 1995; Van de Ven & Poole, 1995; Lewin, 1951). Using a qualitative approach, multiple case studies were discussed. Seven companies from the telecommunications sector were selected, as representative of a high clock speed industry that in Brazil continuously undergoes intense and complex changes. The research findings are based on information collected from in-depth semi-structured interviews, closed-answer questionnaires and archival data. The findings reinforce the importance of communication efforts for putting a change project into effect. They also highlight the need to unravel the meanings triggered by information strategies used during the different phases of project implementation considering the competency-based HR management programs as examples of planned change.