Resistance to

Change:
A new view of an
old problem
 Abstract..

• Focuses on how to deal with

resistance to organizational changes.

• Techniques on what kind of change to

implement; Strategies to adopt.
 Change…
• Simple Process

• Simple to describe

• It occurs whenever we replace the old with

new.
• Implementing change is incredibly difficult.

• Most people are reluctant to leave the

familiar behind & Suspicious about the
unfamiliar.

• Naturally concerned about how we will get

from the old to new, especially if it involves
learning something new and risking failure.
 Resistance as a Survival
Mechanism
• Many corporate mergers fail because of
cultural reasons rather than economic
ones.
• Managers need to understand why people
resist change
• Resistance is simply a very effective, Very
powerful, Very useful survival mechanism.
• The biggest obstacle to change is past
success.

• Asking why changes should be made

when things have gone so well is rational
and reasonable.
 Selecting Changes..
• Resistance to change helps us select
from all possible changes the one that is
most appropriate to the current situation.

• If we accept that some changes must be

avoided and that other changes must be
accepted.
• Any change selection process must
compare every possible option not only
with all the alternatives but also with what
it is replacing.
• The consideration of what is being
replaced brings four new questions?
1. Why is the old status quo no longer
sufficient ?
2. What will it cost to make the transition
from old way of doing things to the “new-
fangled method”?
3. Is this “Cost of transition" justified by the
incremental benefits of what is being
proposed?
4. Does the proposed change support and
reinforce existing core values?
 Example..
• Need to upgrade your company’s
accounting system.
• Presently – Manual system – for a number
of years.
• Not capable to handle the pace of your
company’s recent growth.
• Command from high back to you- “Adopt
or Die”.
• Few strategies that could make change
more acceptable.
1. Assign the computer department to
investigate alternative options and also
include members of the accounting
department in the exploration of
alternatives.
2. Allowing them into attend workshops or
subscribe to magazines that review new
accounting systems, or
even hire new accountants already
experienced in new system.
• Now it would be up to the accounting
department to propose their own change
and even fight for the budget necessary to
implement their vision.

• Result is that the people affected by the

change are committed to it.

• They implement the new system without

that change being forced on them.
 Rational Vs Irrational
• Irrational resistance does exist.

• They simply don’t want to change.

• How they are managing in an organization

is depends greatly upon the organizational
culture.
 Conclusion
• Whatever else you do, fight for as long as
possible the temptation to reject
resistance.

• Resistance to change is normal and

natural.

• If there is a reason for change, Voice it

• If there’s no reason to change , Avoid it.
• Instead of rejecting resistance,
LISTEN
LEARN
LEAD