Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Resistance to change: Four interpretations

Bringselius, Louise LU (2010) In Working Paper Series
Abstract
Although the phenomenon of resistance to change has gained considerable attention in organization theory over the years, the meaning of the concept is rarely discussed. In this paper, a conceptual framework is suggested that distinguishes between four interpretations of resistance and builds upon the two variables of changeability and emotionality. Each interpretation is based on various assumptions and theoretical influences, as well as connected to different change management strategies. The framework can facilitate communication pertaining to resistance across different theoretical perspectives and help explain empirical observations related to resistance and change management strategies. Finally, observations from two case studies... (More)
Although the phenomenon of resistance to change has gained considerable attention in organization theory over the years, the meaning of the concept is rarely discussed. In this paper, a conceptual framework is suggested that distinguishes between four interpretations of resistance and builds upon the two variables of changeability and emotionality. Each interpretation is based on various assumptions and theoretical influences, as well as connected to different change management strategies. The framework can facilitate communication pertaining to resistance across different theoretical perspectives and help explain empirical observations related to resistance and change management strategies. Finally, observations from two case studies reveal that assumptions about resistance can shift in the course of a change process, thus indicating a dynamic dimension to the framework. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
organization
publishing date
type
Working paper/Preprint
publication status
published
subject
keywords
resistance, change management, communication, whistle-blowing
in
Working Paper Series
issue
1
pages
24 pages
publisher
Lund Institute of Economic Research
ISSN
1103-3010
project
Från många till en? Ett forskningsprogram om Försäkringskassans förändring och dess konsekvenser.
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
7450ba03-ee69-4c98-becb-22cb3882c242 (old id 1545973)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 13:29:27
date last changed
2018-11-21 20:16:39
@misc{7450ba03-ee69-4c98-becb-22cb3882c242,
  abstract     = {{Although the phenomenon of resistance to change has gained considerable attention in organization theory over the years, the meaning of the concept is rarely discussed. In this paper, a conceptual framework is suggested that distinguishes between four interpretations of resistance and builds upon the two variables of changeability and emotionality. Each interpretation is based on various assumptions and theoretical influences, as well as connected to different change management strategies. The framework can facilitate communication pertaining to resistance across different theoretical perspectives and help explain empirical observations related to resistance and change management strategies. Finally, observations from two case studies reveal that assumptions about resistance can shift in the course of a change process, thus indicating a dynamic dimension to the framework.}},
  author       = {{Bringselius, Louise}},
  issn         = {{1103-3010}},
  keywords     = {{resistance; change management; communication; whistle-blowing}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Working Paper}},
  number       = {{1}},
  publisher    = {{Lund Institute of Economic Research}},
  series       = {{Working Paper Series}},
  title        = {{Resistance to change: Four interpretations}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/3401269/1549650.pdf}},
  year         = {{2010}},
}