Organizational Roles and Change
How might a top manager’s isolation from frontline realities contribute to employee resistance during organizational change?
Because they’re disconnected from daily operations, they may overlook employee concerns and cause resistance
Even when it's a "good" one, this process can feel like grief, something familiar ends, something new begins, and in between lies uncertainty, anxiety, and mourning.
What is change?
This is the first stage of emotional response, often marked by numbness and disbelief.
What is Shock and Denial?
Critical point on the ride in which some people disengage or withdraw entirely
What is Checking out?
According to the presentation outline, differences in how people respond to organizational change are connected to factors like personality, life stage, cognitive development, job role, and this aspect of background.
Cultural background
In what ways can middle managers be better supported to bridge the gap between leadership directives and staff concerns?
By giving them clear info, resources, and a voice in planning so they can support both staff and leadership.
People don't really resist change itself, they resist ____________.
what they lose because of the change
In this stage, individuals may feel anger, sadness, or frustration as they start to accept the change.
What is Resistance?
Stage in which people feel enthusiastic, hopeful, and focus on the benefits of change
What is uninformed optimism?
People who consistently struggle with newness and only change when it’s absolutely required are described as this type of adapter.
What are late adapters
Why do line staff often experience the most frustration and resistance during times of change, especially in human services organizations?
They’re most affected by changes but least informed, leading to frustration and pushback.
According to Dent & Goldberg (1999), people don’t resist change itself—they resist losses like comfort, control, or identity, and uncertainties like not knowing what’s next or being forced into unfair situations.
What are the real reasons people resist change?
During the Exploration stage, these types of questions become more common as people begin to adapt.
What are “how” questions?
When enthusiasm drops, questioning whether change is ACTUALLY worth it?
What is Informed Pessimism?
Individuals who can tolerate ambiguity and see multiple perspectives are more open to change because they understand that their way is just this, not the reality.
What is “A” reality
How can clear communication and consistent support across all organizational levels reduce complacency and strengthen change efforts?
Clear communication builds trust, keeps everyone informed, and reduces resistance to change.
To support others through change, leaders and social workers should address the emotional side, offering time to grieve, honest communication, reassurance, and respect for what’s been lost.
What do people need from leaders during times of change?
This final stage is when people embrace new ways of working and commit to the change.
What is Commitment?
People see benefits of the change, feel competent and confident
What is informed optimism?
Cultures like Greece, Japan, and Mexico tend to prefer stability and clear rules, scoring high on this cultural measure that reflects discomfort with risk or ambiguity.
What is uncertainty avoidance
What strategies can leaders use to overcome the powerful forces that reinforce complacency and maintain the status quo?
By creating urgency, celebrating progress, and keeping the vision alive
According to Scott & Jaffe (1989), when people experience change, they often grieve losses in these five areas: security, competence, relationships, sense of direction, and territory, each triggering personal fears and uncertainty.
What are the five common areas of loss people experience during change?
A common behavior in the Resistance stage, this emotional response may result in missing work and negativity.
What is anger or frustration?
Change is fully integrated into daily practice and viewed as worthwhile
What is Completion?
JName a country that scores low on uncertainty avoidance.
Denmark, Canada, the U.S., Great Britain, Indonesia, and Switzerland