Must We Change? the Dark Side of Change and Change Resistance

2021 ◽  
pp. 765-790
Author(s):  
Theodore E. Zorn ◽  
Jennifer Scott
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Change ◽  
Behavioral Response ◽  
Resistance To Change ◽  
Change Resistance ◽  
Dark Side ◽  
Change Initiative ◽  
Change Initiatives

Organizational change and innovation are generally treated as unquestioned goods, but some have argued that there exists a darker side to these phenomena. Change is often resisted or only grudgingly accepted by those involved and, given the assumed virtues of change and innovation, resistance has traditionally been considered an obstacle to overcome. This chapter will first consider the dark sides of change—that is, negative aspects, in particular change initiatives that are undertaken for ethically questionable reasons, using ethically questionable means, or resulting in deleterious consequences. Second, it reviews resistance to change—that is, an aversive cognitive, emotional, or behavioral response to a change initiative. Using a framework to consider the substance, processes, and outcomes of change initiatives, practical and theoretical implications are provided for a more nuanced approach to acknowledge the connections between perceptions of a change initiative as potential dark side judgments and resultant resistance behaviors.

Change Resistance as Practicing Moral Authenticity: A Qualitative Study

2021 ◽  
pp. RTNP-D-20-00078
Author(s):  
Kim McMillan ◽  
Amélie Perron
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Organizational Change ◽  
Resistance To Change ◽  
Change Resistance ◽  
Continuous Change ◽  
Change Initiatives ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
External Pressures ◽  
Take Back ◽  
Authentic Care

Background and purposeOrganizational changes are increasingly rapid and continuous in health care as organizations strive to meet multiple external pressures. Much change in health care fails and nurse resistance is commonly blamed for such failure. Nurse resistance to organizational change is often described as overt behaviours and are deemed destructive to the change process. Much of the literature describing organizational change comes from the perspectives of administrators, there is little known about nurses’ experiences of organizational change. The purpose of this inquiry was to explore the nature of frontline nurses’ experiences of rapid and continuous change.MethodsA qualitative critical hermeneutic design was applied. 14 Registered Nurses participated in face-to-face interviews. Openended questions were used. The setting was an urban pediatric teaching hospital located in Canada. Research ethics board approval was obtained as required. Member reflections ensured accurate portrayals of participant’s experiences.ResultsThe findings from this study suggest that acts of resistance to change are not overt, but rather covert behaviors in micro-ethical moments. Nurses engaged in resistance as means to provide morally authentic care at the bedside. These acts were utilized to take back power over their practice amidst feelings of powerlessness, however, paradoxically, when participants described the concept of power, they understood it solely in the context of feeling powerless within the planning, implementation and evaluation of organizational change initiatives. Nurses engagement with resistant behaviours in the context of organizational change demonstrated ethical action and political agency that enabled morally authentic nursing practice.Implications for practiceThe findings from this study offer new understandings of a well-established concept in nursing and can be used when considering the ethical dimensions of nursing work amidst rapidly changing health care institutions.

scholarly journals A performance measurement system for change initiatives

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (7) ◽  
pp. 1647-1672
Author(s):  
Dag Naslund ◽  
Andreas Norrman
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Change ◽  
Performance Measurement ◽  
Measurement System ◽  
Major Change ◽  
Process Efficiency ◽  
Performance Measurement System ◽  
Change Initiative ◽  
Change Initiatives ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Practical Reality

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to develop, implement, test and further enhance a framework for measuring organizational change initiatives. Design/methodology/approach The conceptual part of the framework is based on the structured analysis of existing literature. The framework was further developed during an action research (AR) study where the authors developed, implemented, evaluated and improved the measurement system for organizational change initiatives. Findings The academic literature is rich in conceptual articles providing required characteristics of a “good” measurement system and frameworks for how organizations should measure performance. However, academia provides less empirical evidence of how these performance measurement systems can be implemented, evaluated and improved. In this paper, the authors present a study where the developed measurement system has been implemented, evaluated and improved. The results in terms of how the actual framework worked as well as the response from the case organizations are equally positive. Research limitations/implications The framework has been implemented in two different, major change initiatives in one case organization. While the results are truly encouraging, the framework needs to be further tested and refined in more organizations. Practical implications There is a gap between academic perception and practical reality regarding how organizations should measure performance in general as well as measuring organizational change initiatives. The presented, and empirically tested, framework measures both the results of the change initiative (effectiveness) the actual change process (efficiency) as well as the perception of the change initiative and process from different key stakeholders. Originality/value This is the first developed, implemented and further improved measurement system for organizational change which measures both the efficiency and effectiveness of the change initiative (process).

A relationship between corporate sustainability and organizational change (part three)

2016 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 133-141 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven H. Appelbaum ◽  
Regina Calcagno ◽  
Sean Michael Magarelli ◽  
Milad Saliba
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Change ◽  
Value Creation ◽  
Organizational Transformation ◽  
Corporate Sustainability ◽  
Transformational Change ◽  
Business Culture ◽  
Change Initiative ◽  
Change Initiatives ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Evolution Of Ideas

Purpose – In the present kaleidoscopic business landscape the concepts of corporate sustainability are increasingly affecting corporations’ relationships with society and shaping how business leaders interpret changes to their organizations. The path to sustainability is best viewed as an organizational change initiative for which the “how” and “why” must be considered. Broadly, change initiatives have a notably poor success rate, which is likely related to discord between an initiative and the people undertaking it. Corporate sustainability is a transformational change that impacts business culture and a firm’s relationship with its community. The purpose of this paper is to better understand implications of undertaking sustainability change initiatives in today’s global environment the corporate-societal relationship needs to be examined in this three part paper in terms of value creation, for whom, and how sustainability is becoming an increasingly significant portion of this equation. First, a basis for corporate sustainability and the concepts surrounding who the stakeholders need to be examined, after which the reasons for attempting sustainability, in terms of value creation, and considerations for the implementation (culture, identity, attachment) of said change initiative will be explored. Design/methodology/approach – Empirical and practitioner research papers were reviewed to illustrate the meaning and approaches to corporate sustainability and analyze how organizational change initiatives can best be used to facilitate organizational transformation. Findings – There is no consensus on the meaning of corporate sustainability, rather there continues to be an evolution of ideas and theories shaping the evolution of corporate sustainability. To implement any form of corporate sustainability requires that managers understand their objective and the cultural and psychological barriers of organizational change. Better engagement with those undertaking organizational change and clear articulation of the change’s purpose can better lend themselves to an initiative’s success. However, there is no panacea and managers must recognize that approaches may need to be altered. Research limitations/implications – Research tends to occupy one of two spheres, either corporate sustainability or change initiatives. More linkage between these two concepts and empirical research of the effectiveness of organizational change practices for corporate sustainability is needed. Practical implications – A better understanding of organizational change theories, practices, and procedures may benefit managers and organizations that endeavor to realize corporate sustainability. Social implications – Given the implications of recent corporate collapses and their perceived malice, there is now greater thought about the role these organizations have in society. Concepts regarding shared value and mutual benefit to society and corporations can be expected to remain at the forefront of the public decorum. Originality/value – This paper sought to draw stronger ties between corporate sustainability and organizational change, highlighting that the two are codependent.

A relationship between corporate sustainability and organizational change (Part One)

2016 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 16-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven H. Appelbaum ◽  
Regina Calcagno ◽  
Sean Michael Magarelli ◽  
Milad Saliba
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Change ◽  
Value Creation ◽  
Organizational Transformation ◽  
Corporate Sustainability ◽  
Transformational Change ◽  
Business Culture ◽  
Change Initiative ◽  
Change Initiatives ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Evolution Of Ideas

Purpose – In the present kaleidoscopic business landscape the concepts of corporate sustainability are increasingly affecting corporations’ relationships with society and shaping how business leaders interpret changes to their organizations. The path to sustainability is best viewed as an organizational change initiative for which the “how” and “why” must be considered. Broadly, change initiatives have a notably poor success rate, which is likely related to discord between an initiative and the people undertaking it. Corporate sustainability is a transformational change that impacts business culture and a firm’s relationship with its community. The purpose of this paper is to examine the corporate-societal relationship to better understand implications of undertaking sustainability change initiatives in today’s global environment in this three-part paper in terms of value creation, for whom, and how sustainability is becoming an increasingly significant portion of this equation. First, a basis for corporate sustainability and the concepts surrounding who the stakeholders need to be examined, after which the reasons for attempting sustainability, in terms of value creation, and considerations for the implementation (culture, identity, attachment) of said change initiative will be explored. Design/methodology/approach – Empirical and practitioner research papers were reviewed to: illustrate the meaning and approaches to corporate sustainability; and analyze how organizational change initiatives can best be used to facilitate organizational transformation. Findings – There is no consensus on the meaning of corporate sustainability, rather there continues to be an evolution of ideas and theories shaping the evolution of corporate sustainability. To implement any form of corporate sustainability requires that managers understand their objective and the cultural and psychological barriers of organizational change. Better engagement with those undertaking organizational change and clear articulation of the change’s purpose can better lend themselves to an initiative’s success. However, there is no panacea and managers must recognize that approaches may need to be altered. Research limitations/implications – Research tends to occupy one of two spheres, either corporate sustainability or change initiatives. More linkage between these two concepts and empirical research of the effectiveness of organizational change practices for corporate sustainability is needed. Practical implications – A better understanding of organizational change theories, practices, and procedures may benefit managers and organizations that endeavor to realize corporate sustainability. Social implications – Given the implications of recent corporate collapses and their perceived malice, there is now greater thought about the role these organizations have in society. Concepts regarding shared value and mutual benefit to society and corporations can be expected to remain at the forefront of the public decorum. Originality/value – This paper sought to draw stronger ties between corporate sustainability and organizational change, highlighting that the two are codependent.

A relationship between corporate sustainability and organizational change (part two)

2016 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 89-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven H. Appelbaum ◽  
Regina Calcagno ◽  
Sean Michael Magarelli ◽  
Milad Saliba
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Change ◽  
Value Creation ◽  
Organizational Transformation ◽  
Corporate Sustainability ◽  
Transformational Change ◽  
Business Culture ◽  
Change Initiative ◽  
Change Initiatives ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Evolution Of Ideas

Purpose – In the present kaleidoscopic business landscape the concepts of corporate sustainability are increasingly affecting corporations’ relationships with society and shaping how business leaders interpret changes to their organizations. The path to sustainability is best viewed as an organizational change initiative for which the “how” and “why” must be considered. Broadly, change initiatives have a notably poor success rate, which is likely related to discord between an initiative and the people undertaking it. Corporate sustainability is a transformational change that impacts business culture and a firm’s relationship with its community. To better understand implications of undertaking sustainability change initiatives in today’s global environment the corporate-societal relationship needs to be examined in this three-part paper in terms of value creation, for whom, and how sustainability is becoming an increasingly significant portion of this equation. First, a basis for corporate sustainability and the concepts surrounding who the stakeholders need to be examined, after which the reasons for attempting sustainability, in terms of value creation, and considerations for the implementation (culture, identity, attachment) of said change initiative will be explored. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – Empirical and practitioner research papers were reviewed to illustrate the meaning and approaches to corporate sustainability and analyze how organizational change initiatives can best be used to facilitate organizational transformation. Findings – There is no consensus on the meaning of corporate sustainability, rather there continues to be an evolution of ideas and theories shaping the evolution of corporate sustainability. To implement any form of corporate sustainability requires that managers understand their objective and the cultural and psychological barriers of organizational change. Better engagement with those undertaking organizational change and clear articulation of the change’s purpose can better lend themselves to an initiative’s success. However, there is no panacea and managers must recognize that approaches may need to be altered. Research limitations/implications – Research tends to occupy one of two spheres, either corporate sustainability or change initiatives. More linkage between these two concepts and empirical research of the effectiveness of organizational change practices for corporate sustainability is needed. Practical implications – A better understanding of organizational change theories, practices, and procedures may benefit managers and organizations that endeavor to realize corporate sustainability. Social implications – Given the implications of recent corporate collapses and their perceived malice, there is now greater thought about the role these organizations have in society. Concepts regarding shared value and mutual benefit to society and corporations can be expected to remain at the forefront of the public decorum. Originality/value – This paper sought to draw stronger ties between corporate sustainability and organizational change, highlighting that the two are codependent.

Change-supportive employee behavior: a career identity explanation

2015 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 38-62 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evgenia I. Lysova ◽  
Julia Richardson ◽  
Svetlana N. Khapova ◽  
Paul G. W. Jansen
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Change ◽  
Work Values ◽  
Individual Characteristics ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Change Initiative ◽  
Change Initiatives ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Career Identity ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Willingness To Engage

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore how career identity informs employees’ willingness to engage in organizational change initiatives. Design/methodology/approach – The paper draws on the findings of a qualitative case study exploring the experiences of 29 employees involved in a planned “bottom-up” organizational change initiative. At the time of the study, all interviewees were employed in a Dutch non-profit organization. Findings – Drawing on protean career theory and the literature on other-oriented work values, we show that career identity informs both how employees make sense of the respective organizational change and their willingness to engage in it. The authors found that proactive career behavior and a focus on other-oriented work values inform higher levels of employees’ engagement in the change, while passive career behavior and self-centered work values inform employees’ lower levels of involvement in the change initiative. Based on the findings, the authors conclude this paper with a conceptual model which captures the cyclical relationship between career identity and employees’ willingness to engage in organizational change initiatives. Research limitations/implications – Future research should consider both the individual characteristics of employees involved in change initiatives and content or contextual factors when exploring willingness to engage with change. Practical implications – Organizational change consultants and managers need to be aware of the influence of career identity on employees’ willingness to engage in organizational change and use this information during the implementation of change initiatives. Originality/value – The paper explores employees’ willingness to engage with organizational change initiatives through the lens of career identity.

Organizational change in a scenario of political upheaval and economic crisis: a Brazilian case

2018 ◽  
Vol 41 (10) ◽  
pp. 1118-1136
Author(s):  
Marcela Chacur Juliboni ◽  
Adriana Victoria Garibaldi de Hilal
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Change ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Retention Mechanism ◽  
Economic Downturn ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Critical Factors ◽  
Change Initiative ◽  
Change Initiatives ◽  
Destructive Effect ◽  
Content Type

PurposeThis paper aims to enhance the understanding of organizational change (OC) and the main critical factors to change.Design/methodology/approachA single case study was conducted in a large company with operations in Brazil by means of 21 in-depth interviews. A qualitative perspective was applied to scrutinize the data collected.FindingsMain critical factors, such as commitment and trust, represent pieces of a puzzle that, when put together in a constructive way, draw a path to successful implementation of a change initiative. On the one hand, a country crisis poses as an obstacle to build change initiative credibility. On the other hand, an economic downturn may represent a retention mechanism. This study allowed the authors to draw a diagram with four groups of people based on their engagement with the organization change initiatives and on their seniority. In brief, the company is in a vicious circle. It is prisoner of a negative loop that causes a destructive effect in the change process, and it does not allow them to think out of the box and explore creative alternatives to face the company challenges.Research limitations/implicationsThe research presents a few limitations regarding the chosen method and, also, country and company scenario where the research took place.Practical implicationsThe results have implications for human resources development (HRD) scholars and practitioners in the planning and implementation of OC-related initiatives.Originality/valueThis paper contributes to OC literature and practitioners by showing the importance of credibility in change initiatives to achieve their successful implementation. This study also supports the strong relationship among main critical factors to change. Finally, the company is locked in a negative loop that stifles the successive attempts to successfully implement the change initiatives.

Navigating Organizational Change

2017 ◽  
pp. 1005-1021
Author(s):  
Nancy Kymn Harvin Rutigliano ◽  
Nadine V. Wedderburn ◽  
John M. Beckem II
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Change ◽  
21St Century ◽  
Resistance To Change ◽  
Dynamic Change ◽  
Change Resistance ◽  
Opportunities For Learning ◽  
Collective Acceptance ◽  
Critical Process ◽  
Major Impediment ◽  
The Way

Organizational change is a critical process for the survival of any organization in the 21st century. Resistance to change, oftentimes presented by stakeholders within an organization, is a major impediment to the process and can lead to chaos. While being a driver of change, chaos complicates and often impedes transformation. Thus, while chaos necessitates highly dynamic change, resistance stands in the way of mobility. The goal of thriving through chaos and change poses challenges to leaders, managers, and an organization's many stakeholders, while also providing opportunities for learning and growth within the organization. Hence, a sophisticated approach aimed at eliminating, weakening, adapting or transforming different aspects of resistance serves the organization and its stakeholders with the benefits of acceptance, learning and growth. This chapter discusses factors that spark resistance to organizational change and presents opportunities to generate collective acceptance and promote learning among stakeholders.

From Resistance to Resilience

2021 ◽  
pp. 838-846
Author(s):  
Kathleen M. Sutcliffe
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Change ◽  
Change Resistance ◽  
Dark Side ◽  
Absolute Sense ◽  
Produce Change

Two themes in the organizational change literature for decades have been of recurring interest to organizational scholars and practitioners and are central to Theodore Zorn’s and Jennifer Scott’s chapter—‘Why Change? The Dark Side of Change and Change Resistance’. The first theme centers on the idea that most change programs fail—they don’t produce change as intended. The second theme centers on the idea that most change programs are resisted. This essay seeks to add additional nuance to the analysis by emphasizing the contingent nature of change failures and resistance. That is, change and resistance are neither good nor bad in an absolute sense. Appraisals of change failure and resistance depend: they depend on the element of change that is being assessed; the point in time that assessment is being made, and whose perspective on change is being privileged. These considerations open our eyes to the possibility that resilience underlies resistance.

Understanding the role of social media in organizational change implementation

2020 ◽  
Vol 43 (9) ◽  
pp. 1097-1116
Author(s):  
Muhammad Naeem
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Organizational Change ◽  
Resistance To Change ◽  
Change Implementation ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Change Initiatives ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Change Acceptance ◽  
Media Applications

Purpose The purpose of this study is to identify the role of social media in implementing effective organizational change. The study illuminates how social media applications support the antecedents of organizational change in the workplace. Design/methodology/approach The study followed an interpretive approach based on qualitative design and grounded theory using 41 non-directive and semi-structured interviews with change leaders and change recipients. These respondents were chosen using purposive sampling and thematic analysis was then performed using NVivo 11-Plus software. Findings This research highlights how social media applications can be used to overcome the challenges of organizational change implementation. The findings of the study illuminate various emerging themes such as social media applications are beneficial for fostering knowledge sharing about change processes and enhancing effective communication during change formulation and implementation. It can increase the level of trust and participation in decision-making and decrease the level of resistance to change. Also, it can enhance the level of support for change acceptance in the workplace. Practical implications Social media application (SMAs) are helpful to foster informal, constructive and relevant discussion with respect to routines organizational tasks, employee concerns about new changes, information about job security and financial and non-financial benefits after change implementation. The effective and efficient use of SMAs helps organizations to foster knowledge amongst employees and they can address various critical issues i.e. employee uncertainties about change initiatives, social consensus on the solution of problems and interactive communication among social actors within a network. Originality/value The study represents an effort to explore seldom-researched aspects such as the role of social media in the context of change formulation and implementation at the workplace. Social media applications have become popular across the world and the speed of their usage is rising day by day, but their real contribution toward organizational change has not yet been fully understood.

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