Comprehensive Analysis: Management of Resistance to Change

This essay delves into the critical issue of resistance to change within management, a significant barrier to organizational efficiency. It identifies three primary factors contributing to this resistance: communication gaps between management and employees, lack of adequate training, and changes in roles and responsibilities. The essay elaborates on how these factors negatively impact employee working patterns and organizational profits. Furthermore, it proposes four effective methods for managing resistance: providing training and development opportunities to enhance employee skills and confidence, offering rewards and recognition to boost morale, fostering open and transparent communication channels to address employee concerns, and actively engaging employees in decision-making processes to increase their sense of ownership and reduce resistance. The essay concludes by emphasizing the importance of these strategies for achieving organizational goals and competitive advantages.

Running head: management
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Management
Resistance to change is one of the complex processes and also it is the concept which is
considered for the failure of a process related to change. One of the biggest barriers is related to
the resistance to change. Just because of this reason it is difficult for the companies to enhance
the overall efficiency and effectiveness. It is seen that resistance to change give negative impact
on the working pattern of the employees and also it is seen that overall profits are also affected
by this factor. In this paper, the discussion will be made of the factors which can lead to
resistance. Also, the methods will be considered that should be used by the companies so that
resistance to change can be managed in an effective manner.
The three factors which can lead to resistance are the communication gap, lack of
required training and also change in the roles and responsibilities. It is seen resistance can take
place when there communication gap between the top management and the employees. Lack of
training is also one of the most important factors that can cause resistance. When there is a
change in the responsibility then also it can cause the resistance of the employees (Georgalis,
Samaratunge, Kimberley & Lu, 2015).
So, the first factor which is related to resistance is a communication gap. It can be
analyzed that when there is communication gap in the company then only this problem arises.
Communication is important in the organization so that employees can conduct the activities
with efficiency. If there is no proper communication in the organization then it can give negative
impact on the working pattern of the employees (Erkama, 2010). It is seen that when changes
take place in the organization then it can also enhance the managerial control of the workers so
this process can enhance the resistance of the employees related to a proposal of change. When
managerial control enhances they are not able to communicate with their colleagues or the
managers so it creates frustration and can lead to resistance.
Also, it is seen that there are many workers who are dependent on each other and also has
dependence is related to the support which they get from the other powerful person. If they are
not able to communicate effectively and communication gap enhances then it can cause
resistance to the employees who are conducting their routine activities in the organization
(Hornstein, 2015). There are many cases when the employees are not given proper information
about the changes that will take place in the company, so it can result in the resistance to change.
The employee will not accept the change that will be implemented in the company.
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Also, it is seen that with proper communication the problems can be solved effectively.
But if there is a lack of the communication then employees will oppose the change that takes
place in the Company. It is important for the employees to understand the changes so that they
can conduct the activities in an effective manner (Jabri, 2012).
Next factor is related to inadequate training given to the employees in the workplace. It is
analyzed that proper training is important for the employees so that they can conduct the
activities in a proper manner. If proper training is not given to the employees it can also lead to
reducing the overall productivity level and also in the growth of the company. One of the major
causes of resistance is also inadequate training (Vakola, 2014).
When the employees are not trained or given information about the activities they will
not able to conduct the activities in the right way and it can cause resistance. When the
evaluation is made of the organization change it is seen that when employees are not confident in
conducting the activities then they will resist the change and it can create an issue for the
company or minimizes the overall profitability. If training is not proper then it can increase the
workload of the employees and then resistance will take place (Erwin & Garman, 2010).
Next factor that leads to resistance is a change in the roles and responsibilities. It is
analyzed that it is also one of the factors which cause the resistance of the employees in the
workplace. It can be evaluated that when the change in the responsibility and role take place the
people become resistance. The organizational system is considered as the open system so
sometimes responsibility and roles of individual changes by not taking their suggestion. In this
case, they feel demotivated and do not conduct the activities in an effective manner. Also, it is
seen when the change in the duty and responsibility take place then it affects the retention of the
employees in the workplace (Langley, Smallman, Tsoukas & Van de Ven, 2013).
Organization faces issue to retain the employees when the responsibilities are changed
without asking from them and they are not happy with the assigned duty and responsibility. As a
change in responsibility give impact on the activities and it is seen that at this time the employees
resist. For instance: When an employee has the skill to manage the customers and if the
responsibility is transferred to manage the accounts department then they can face the issue and
can resist as they don't have the knowledge of the activities.
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So, it is important for the company to manage the resistance to change so that the
activities can be conducted smoothly. If activities are conducted smoothly then it can be possible
to achieve competitive advantage and to grab large market share. It will also help to enhance the
overall profit of the company by giving focus on managing the resistance to change effectively.
There are four methods that can help the company to achieve success in managing the
resistance to change. The company should give focus on giving training and development
sessions so that resistance to change can be managed by the company. The second method that
should be adopted by the company is giving rewards and recognition at the time of making a
change in the responsibility and duty of an employee. The third method that should be
considered by the company is proper communication that should be made with the employees
and proper reasons should be explained for the change that is implemented in the company. The
fourth method on which the company should give focus is effectively engaging the employees of
the organization.
So, the first method which is related to training and development helps the employees to
learn and acquire new skills which not only enhance the confidence level of the employees but
also help them to sort out their issues related to resist change. Training gives them support to
conduct the activities and of the company focuses on this pattern then it can also enhance the
process of retention of the employees in the company (Borman & Motowidlo, 2014).
Training helps to motivate them so that they can conduct the activities according to the
goals and objectives of the company. Training and development are one of the best methods that
should be considered by every company so that growth and productivity can be enhanced by the
employees. It will not only help to accomplish the objectives but will also give benefit to achieve
competitive advantage in the competitive environment (Hon, Bloom & Crant, 2014).
Next method is related to rewards and recognition at the time of making a change. It is
analyzed that company should focus on giving rewards and recognition when they implement
change. It will help to enhance the motivation level of the employees and also boost the morale
(Barrick, Thurgood, Smith & Courtright, 2015). The issue related to resistance to change can be
reduced effectively if a company gives rewards and recognition. By giving a reward to the
employees helps to maximize their productivity and also hey will conduct the activities with
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more dedication. Rewards and recognition is the way that helps the employees to give their best
towards the activities assigned to them. So they will not resist the change and can conduct the
activities in a proper manner.
Next method is related to the communication. It is seen that it is important for the
organization to communicate with the employees or to give opportunity so that they can share
their views and feedback in a proper manner. The best way to reduce the resistance to change is
that the manager should communicate with the employees and should share their views so that
employees can be satisfied and feel good in conducting the activities of the company. It is seen
that company should use formal and informal communication that helps to the employees to gain
the knowledge of the activities that will take place in the organization (Klonek, Lehmann-
Willenbrock & Kauffeld, 2014).
The company should communicate with the employees through emails, face to face
meetings and also by conducting meetings so that they can feel good and satisfied with the
changes that are implemented in the company. It is seen that the company can help the
employees to enhance their communication skills with the help of this method. So this method
will help the company to boost the morale and confidence level which is one of the positive
aspects that will be achieved by the company. The positive aspect which can be gained is related
to the productivity and efficiency in the working pattern of the employees (Steigenberger, 2015).
The last method is related to engaging the employees in the process of decision making
or should take advice from the employees so that they can conduct the activities in a proper
manner. When the company is going to implement the change it is important to take advice from
the employees so that they can feel good and resistance to change can be reduced (Williams,
McWilliam & Lawrence, 2016).
If activities are implemented accord to the expectation level of the employees then it can
be easy to accomplish the overall goals and objectives in an effective manner. The company
should use this technique as it is helpful for both the employer and the employee in completing
the activities of the company with dedication and efficiency (Thomas & Hardy, 2011). It can be
evaluated that if this method is taken into consideration by the company then the number of the
employees who resist the change can be reduced in a proper manner.
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So, by analyzing the paper it is concluded that company should focus on the methods so
that satisfaction level of the employees can be enhanced and also goals and objectives can be
achieved effectively. The employees will not resist changing when their feedback is also taken
and a process of communication is effective.
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