Manager's Hot Seat: ChangeInnovation in Aisle 9

Resistance to change offers a plausible explanation for the apparently high failure rate of organizational change. Many commentators see resistance to change as a problem to be solved, a barrier to overcome, an enemy to defeat. Resistance also stimulates strong emotions and strong language.

Bergman's Supermarket is holding an executive session to discuss potentially converting its stores to being completely automated. The company is one of the leading supermarkets in the country with hundreds of thousands of employees and is led by a third-generation Bergman. Investors are pressuring the company to start investing in innovative processes in order to stay competitive. One executive just wrapped up a presentation to the group and there are differences in opinion in the board room on how to move forward. How is the leadership team handling the situation? How would you?

1. What is most likely the primary cause of Harry's resistance to change?

Multiple Choice

Innate dislike of change

Lack of clarity as to what is expected

Attachment to organizational culture and identity

Perception that the timing is wrong

Low tolerance of ambiguity

2. Harry initially portrays what type of resistance symptom?

Multiple Choice

Conflicting

Defensive

Passive

Administrative

Active

3. Priya's presentation to the team reflected what strategy to dealing with resistance to change?

Multiple Choice

Education and communication

Facilitation and support

Explicit coercion

Implicit coercion

Co-optation

4. At the end of the video, Harry's response to the change can best be characterized as ________.

Multiple Choice

genuine compliance

noncompliance

formal compliance

reactive

commitment