| Resistance to change has for decades been recognized as an organizational challenge; however, a comprehensive understanding of the different ways that resistance can be manifested was still needed. If individuals respond to change in different ways, and if variations in responses yield different outcomes, recognition of those expressions of resistance is an essential step in the development and implementation of effective, targeted change management strategies. This study refined the conceptualization of the resistance to change construct as a maladaptive response to change, and demonstrated through multiple iterations of scale validation that it is a multi-faceted construct, comprised of internal (both cognitive and affective), physical, and behavioral manifestations of resistance. The resulting Resistance Responses Scale (RRS) predicted employees' perceptions of their leaders, their social networks and of available change information, all variables which can impact the success of organizational change efforts. Use of the RRS can increase employers' understanding of their employees' responses to change, and facilitate development of appropriate change management strategies. |
