Topic 15:
Organizational Change
1-1
15-1
Force Field Analysis Model
Change
Restraining
Forces
Desired
Conditions
Restraining
Forces Driving
Forces
Restraining
Forces
Driving
Current
Conditions
Forces
Driving
Forces
Unfreezing Moving Refreezing
(Before (During (After
Change) Change) Change)
15-2
Lewin’s Force Field Analysis Model
Developed by Kurt Lewin
Restraining
Driving forces Forces
• Push organizations toward change
• External forces or leader’s vision
Restraining forces
• Resistance to change -- employee Driving
Forces
behaviors that block the change
process
15-3
Why People Resist Change
1. Direct costs
• Losing something of value due to change
2. Saving face
• Accepting change acknowledges own imperfection,
past wrongdoing
3. Fear of the unknown
• Risk of personal loss
• Concern about being unable to adjust
15-4
Why People Resist Change
(con’t)
4. Breaking routines
• Organizational unlearning is part of change process
• But past practices/habits are valued by employees
due to comfort, low cognitive effort
5. Incongruent organizational systems
• Systems/structures reinforce status quo
• Career, reward, power, communication systems
6. Incongruent team dynamics
• Norms contrary to desired change
15-5
Minimizing Resistance to Change
Communication
Highest priority and first strategy
for change
Learning Improves urgency to change
Reduces uncertainty (fear of
Involvement unknown)
Problems -- time consuming and
Stress Mgt costly
Negotiation
Coercion
15-6
Minimizing Resistance to Change
Communication
Provides new knowledge/skills
Includes coaching and other forms
Learning of learning
Helps break old routines and
Involvement adopt new roles
Problems -- potentially time
Stress Mgt consuming and costly
Negotiation
Coercion
15-7
Minimizing Resistance to Change
Communication
Employees participate in change
Learning process
Helps saving face and reducing
Involvement
fear of unknown
Includes task forces, future search
Stress Mgt
events
Negotiation
Problems -- time-consuming,
potential conflict
Coercion
15-8
Minimizing Resistance to Change
Communication
Help employees manage stress if
stress is the reason for resistance
Learning Counseling, providing emotional
support.
Involvement Potential benefits
• More motivation to change
Stress Mgt • Less fear of unknown
• Fewer direct costs
Negotiation Problems -- time-consuming,
expensive, doesn’t help everyone
Coercion
15-9
Minimizing Resistance to Change
Communication
Learning
Influence by exchange -- reduces
Involvement direct costs
May be necessary when people
Stress Mgt clearly lose something and won’t
otherwise support change
Negotiation Problems
• Expensive
Coercion
• Gains compliance, not commitment
15-10
Minimizing Resistance to Change
Communication
Learning
Involvement
When all else fails
Assertive influence
Stress Mgt Radical form of “unlearning”
Problems
Negotiation • Reduces trust
• May create more subtle resistance
Coercion • Encourage politics to protect job
15-11
Change Agents
Change agent -- anyone who possesses
enough knowledge and power to guide and
facilitate the change effort
E.g. A transformational leader
15-12