Context Variables and Responses to Organizational Change:
Testing the Mediating Role of Attitudes
Keywords:
Organizational change, Organizational context change, Attitudes toward organizational change, Resistance, Behavior to support chanceAbstract
In the current context, increasingly fast-paced changes have become the rule in organizations, demanding constant
assimilation on the part of employees. Therefore, this study investigates the mediation of attitudes in the relationship between
context and responses to organizational change. To test the mediation model a quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted
in two public organizations. The 981 participants completed three scales. Analyses of reliability of the scales were realized
while regression analysis was used to test the mediation model. The model was partially confirmed, indicating the influence
of the context on attitude and behavioral responses to organizational change. This study has theoretical and methodological
implications for the field of organizational behavior. The practical contribution refers to an increased understanding about the
factors that facilitate the success of organizational change.
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References
Avey, J. B., Wernsing, T. S., & Luthans, F. (2008). Can Positive
Employees Help Positive Organizational Change? Impact of
Psychological Capital and Emotions on Relevant Attitudes and
Behaviors. Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, 44, 48-70.
Armenakis, A. A., & Bedeian, A. G. (1999). Organizational change:
a review of theory and research in the 1990s. Journal of
Management, 25, 293-315.
Ashford, B. E., & Mael, F. (1998). The power of resistance:
Sustaining valued identities. In R. M. Kramer & M. A. Neale
(Eds.), Power and influence in organizations (pp. 89-119).
Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Armenakis, A. A., Harris, S. G., Mossholder, K. W., & Isabella, L. A.
(2007). Readiness for Organizational Change: The Systematic
Development of a Scale. The Journal of Applied Behavioral
Science, 43, 232-255.
Baron, R. M., & Kenny, D. A. (1986). The moderator-mediator
variable distinction in social psychological research:
Conceptual, strategic, and statistical considerations. Journal
of Personality and Social Psychology, 51(6), 1173-1182. doi:
10.1037/0022-3514.51.6.1173.
Battilana, J., & Casciaro, T. (2013). Overcoming Resistance to
Organizational Change: Strong Ties and Affective Cooptation.
Management Science, 59(4), 819-836.
Baumeister, R. F., Gailliot, M. T., DeWall, C. N., & Oaten, M.
(2006). Self-regulation and personality: Strength-boosting
interventions and trait moderators of ego depletion. Journal of
Personality and Social Psychology, 74, 1773-1802.
Bentler, P. M. (1989). EQS, Structural Equations, Program Manual,
Program Version 3.0, Los Angeles: BMDP Statistical Software,
Inc.
Bordia, P. Restubog, S. L. D., Jimmieson, N., & Irmer, B. (2011).
Haunted by the past: Effects of poor change management
history on employee attitudes and turnover. Group &
Organization Management, 36(2) 191-222.
Bouckenooghe, D. (2010). Positioning Change Recipients’ Attitudes
Toward Change in the Organizational Change Literature. The
Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, 46(4), 500-531.
Bortolotti, L. V., Souza Junior, A. F. d., & Andrade, D. F. D. (2009,
outubro). Uma proposta de modelo para avaliar a resistência
à mudança organizacional. Paper presented at the Anais do
VI Simpósio de Excelência em Gestão e Tecnologia (SEGET),
Resende, RJ.
Bovey, W. H., & Hede A. (2001). Resistance to organizational
change: the role of cognitive and affective processes.
Leadership & Organization Development Journal, 22(8),
372-382.
Coyle-Shapiro, J. A.-M. (1999). Employee participation and
assessment of an organizational change intervention: a three
wave study of Total Quality Management. Journal of Applied
Behavioral Science, 35(4), 439-456.
Choi, M. (2011). Employees’ attitudes toward organizational
change: A literature review. Human Resource Management,
50(4), 479-500. doi: 10.1002/hrm.20434
Cunningham, G. B. (2006). The relationships among commitment to
change, coping with change, and turnover intentions. European
Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology, 15(1), 29-45.
Devos, G., Buelens, M., & Bouckenooghe, D. (2007). The
contribution of content, context, and process in understanding
openness to organizational change: Two experimental
simulation studies. Journal of Social Psychology, 147(6),
607-629.
Eilam, G., & Shamir, B. (2005). Organizational Change and Self-
Concept Threats. The Journal of Applied Behavioral Science,
41(4), 399-421. doi: 10.1177/0021886305280865
Fischer, H. C. R., & Lima, S. M. V. (2005). Validação de instrumento
para diagnóstico de condições facilitadoras de mudança
organizacional. Revista Psicologia, 5, 13-44.
Ford, J. D., Ford, L. W., & D’Amelio, A. (2008). Resistance to
change: The rest of the story. Academy of Management Review,
33(2), 362-377.
George, J. M., & Jones, G.R. (2001). Towards a process model of
individual change in organization. Human Relations, 54(4),
419-444.
Hatch, M. J., & Ehrlich, S. B. (1993). Spontaneous humor as
an indicator of paradox and ambiguity in organizations.
Organization Studies, 14, 505-26.
Herscovitch, L., & Meyer, J. P. (2002). Commitment to
organizational change: Extension of a Three-component
Model. Journal of Applied Psychology, 87(3), 474-487.
Hodgkinson, G. P., & Healey, M. P. (2008). Cognition in
organizations. Annual Review of Psychology, 59, 387-417.
Huy, Q. N. (2002). Emotional Balancing of Organizational
Continuity and Radical Change: The Contribution of Middle
Managers. Administrative Science Quarterly, 47, 31-69.
Isabella, L. A. (1990). Evolving interpretations as a change unfolds:
how managers construe key organizational events. Academy
of Management Journal, 33(1), 7-41.
Kalimo, R., Taris, T. W., & Schaufeli, W. B (2003). The effects
of past and anticipated future downsizing on survivor wellbeing:
an equity perspective. Journal of Occupational Health
Psychology, 8(2), 91-109.
Kim, T. G., Hornung, S., & Rousseau, D. M (2011). Changesupportive
employee behavior: antecedents and the moderating
role of time. Journal of Management, 37, 1664-1693.
Kruglanski, A. P., A., Higgins, E., & Capozza, D. (2007). “On the
move” or “staying put”: Locomotion, need for closure, and
reactions to organizational change. Journal of Applied Social
Psychology, 37(6), 1305-1340.
Lau, C. M., & Woodman, R. (1995). Understanding organizational
change: a schematic perspective. Academy of Management
Journal, 38(2), 537-554.
Lima, S. M. V., & Bressan, C. L. (2003). Mudança Organizacional:
uma introdução. In S. M. V. Lima (Ed.), Mudança
Organizacional: teoria e gestão (pp. 17-63). Rio de Janeiro
FGV.
Lima Filho, D. O., Sproesser, R. L., & Hoffmann, G. H. (2005).
Reforma administrativa e resistências externas: um estudo de
caso. Revista de Administração Pública, 39(1), 123-13.
Lines, R. (2005). The Structure and Function of Attitudes Toward
Organizational Change. Human Resource Development Review,
4, 8-32. doi: 10.1177/1534484304273818
Meyer, J. P., Srinivas, E. S., Lal, J B., & Topolnytsky, L. (2007).
Employee commitment and support for an organizational
change: Test of the three-component model in two cultures.
Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology,
80(2), 185-211.
Neiva, E. R., Ros, M., & Paz, M. G. T. (2005). Attitudes towards
organizational change: validation of a scale. Psychology in
Spain, 9(1), 81-90.
Neiva, E. R., & Brito, M. J. P. (2008). Redes sociais e mudança
em uma associação de produtores rurais. Psicologia
(Florianópolis), 8, 5-24.
Neiva, E. R., & Paz, M. G. T. d. (2012). Percepção de mudança
individual e organizacional: o papel das atitudes, dos
valores, do poder e da capacidade organizacional. Revista de
Administração (São Paulo), 47, 22-37.
Neiva, E. R., & Nery, V. F (2012, july). Change reactions: The role
of change context and attitudes toward change. Paper presented
at the XXX International Congress of Psychology. In Abstracts
of the XXX International Congress of Psychology, International
Journal of Psychology, Volume 47, Cape Town, South Africa.
Neiva, E. R., Goulart, P. A. R., Fussi, C. C., & Nery, V. F. (2012,
setembro). Contexto e atitudes na mudança organizacional:
um estudo realizado em quatro organizações brasileiras. In:
XXXVI Encontro da ANPAD, 2012, Rio de Janeiro. Anais do
XXXVI Encontro da ANPAD, 2012. v. 1. p. 1-17.
Nery, V. F., & Neiva, E. R. (2012, maio). Construção e validação
do inventário de reações comportamentais à mudança
organizacional. V Congresso Brasileiro de Psicologia
Organizacional e do Trabalho. In: Anais do V Congresso
Brasileiro de Psicologia Organizacional e do Trabalho, Rio
de Janeiro/ RJ, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro -
UERJ, Brasil.
Oreg, S. (2003). Resistance to Change: Developing an Individual
Differences Measure. Journal of Applied Psychology, 88(4),
680-693.
Oreg, S., Vakola, M., & Armenakis, A. (2011). Change Recipients’
Reactions to Organizational Change: A 60-Year Review of
Quantitative Studies. The Journal of Applied Behavioral
Science. doi: 10.1177/0021886310396550
Pettigrew, A. M., Woodman, R. W., & Cameron, K. S. (2001).
Studying organizational change and development: challenges
for future research. Academy of Management Journal, 44(4),
697-713.
Piderit, S. K. (2000). Rethinking resistance and recognizing
ambivalence: A multidimensional view of attitudes toward
an organizational change. Academy of Management Review,
25(4), 783-794.
Rafferty, A. E., & Griffin, M. A. (2006). Perceptions of
Organizational Change: A Stress and Coping Perspective.
Journal of Applied Psychology, 91(5), 1154-1162.
Santos, J. N., Neiva, E. R., & Andrade-Melo, E. A. (2013).
Relação entre clima organizacional, percepção de mudança
organizacional e satisfação do cliente. Psicologia: Teoria e
Pesquisa, 29, 31-39.
Self, D., Armenakis, A., & Schraeder, M. (2007). Organizational
change content, process and context: A simultaneous analysis
of employee reactions. Journal of Change Management, 7(2),
211-229.
Trader-Leigh, K. E. (2002). Case study: Identifying resistance
in managing change. Journal of Organizational Change
Management, 15, 138-155.
Vakola, M., Tsaousis, L., & Nikolaou, L. (2004). The role of
emotional intelligence and personality variables on attitudes
toward organizational change. Journal of Managerial
Psychology, 19(2), 88-110.
Valley, K. L., & Thompson, T. A. (1998). Sticky ties and bad
attitudes: relational and individual bases of resistance to change
in organizational structure. In R. M. Kramer & M. A. Neale
(Eds.), Power and influence in organizations (pp. 39-66).
London: Sage publications, Inc.
Zamuto, R., & O´Connor E. (1992). Gaining advanced manufacturing
technologies benefits: the role of organizational design and
culture. Academy of Management Review, 17, 701-728.
Employees Help Positive Organizational Change? Impact of
Psychological Capital and Emotions on Relevant Attitudes and
Behaviors. Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, 44, 48-70.
Armenakis, A. A., & Bedeian, A. G. (1999). Organizational change:
a review of theory and research in the 1990s. Journal of
Management, 25, 293-315.
Ashford, B. E., & Mael, F. (1998). The power of resistance:
Sustaining valued identities. In R. M. Kramer & M. A. Neale
(Eds.), Power and influence in organizations (pp. 89-119).
Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Armenakis, A. A., Harris, S. G., Mossholder, K. W., & Isabella, L. A.
(2007). Readiness for Organizational Change: The Systematic
Development of a Scale. The Journal of Applied Behavioral
Science, 43, 232-255.
Baron, R. M., & Kenny, D. A. (1986). The moderator-mediator
variable distinction in social psychological research:
Conceptual, strategic, and statistical considerations. Journal
of Personality and Social Psychology, 51(6), 1173-1182. doi:
10.1037/0022-3514.51.6.1173.
Battilana, J., & Casciaro, T. (2013). Overcoming Resistance to
Organizational Change: Strong Ties and Affective Cooptation.
Management Science, 59(4), 819-836.
Baumeister, R. F., Gailliot, M. T., DeWall, C. N., & Oaten, M.
(2006). Self-regulation and personality: Strength-boosting
interventions and trait moderators of ego depletion. Journal of
Personality and Social Psychology, 74, 1773-1802.
Bentler, P. M. (1989). EQS, Structural Equations, Program Manual,
Program Version 3.0, Los Angeles: BMDP Statistical Software,
Inc.
Bordia, P. Restubog, S. L. D., Jimmieson, N., & Irmer, B. (2011).
Haunted by the past: Effects of poor change management
history on employee attitudes and turnover. Group &
Organization Management, 36(2) 191-222.
Bouckenooghe, D. (2010). Positioning Change Recipients’ Attitudes
Toward Change in the Organizational Change Literature. The
Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, 46(4), 500-531.
Bortolotti, L. V., Souza Junior, A. F. d., & Andrade, D. F. D. (2009,
outubro). Uma proposta de modelo para avaliar a resistência
à mudança organizacional. Paper presented at the Anais do
VI Simpósio de Excelência em Gestão e Tecnologia (SEGET),
Resende, RJ.
Bovey, W. H., & Hede A. (2001). Resistance to organizational
change: the role of cognitive and affective processes.
Leadership & Organization Development Journal, 22(8),
372-382.
Coyle-Shapiro, J. A.-M. (1999). Employee participation and
assessment of an organizational change intervention: a three
wave study of Total Quality Management. Journal of Applied
Behavioral Science, 35(4), 439-456.
Choi, M. (2011). Employees’ attitudes toward organizational
change: A literature review. Human Resource Management,
50(4), 479-500. doi: 10.1002/hrm.20434
Cunningham, G. B. (2006). The relationships among commitment to
change, coping with change, and turnover intentions. European
Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology, 15(1), 29-45.
Devos, G., Buelens, M., & Bouckenooghe, D. (2007). The
contribution of content, context, and process in understanding
openness to organizational change: Two experimental
simulation studies. Journal of Social Psychology, 147(6),
607-629.
Eilam, G., & Shamir, B. (2005). Organizational Change and Self-
Concept Threats. The Journal of Applied Behavioral Science,
41(4), 399-421. doi: 10.1177/0021886305280865
Fischer, H. C. R., & Lima, S. M. V. (2005). Validação de instrumento
para diagnóstico de condições facilitadoras de mudança
organizacional. Revista Psicologia, 5, 13-44.
Ford, J. D., Ford, L. W., & D’Amelio, A. (2008). Resistance to
change: The rest of the story. Academy of Management Review,
33(2), 362-377.
George, J. M., & Jones, G.R. (2001). Towards a process model of
individual change in organization. Human Relations, 54(4),
419-444.
Hatch, M. J., & Ehrlich, S. B. (1993). Spontaneous humor as
an indicator of paradox and ambiguity in organizations.
Organization Studies, 14, 505-26.
Herscovitch, L., & Meyer, J. P. (2002). Commitment to
organizational change: Extension of a Three-component
Model. Journal of Applied Psychology, 87(3), 474-487.
Hodgkinson, G. P., & Healey, M. P. (2008). Cognition in
organizations. Annual Review of Psychology, 59, 387-417.
Huy, Q. N. (2002). Emotional Balancing of Organizational
Continuity and Radical Change: The Contribution of Middle
Managers. Administrative Science Quarterly, 47, 31-69.
Isabella, L. A. (1990). Evolving interpretations as a change unfolds:
how managers construe key organizational events. Academy
of Management Journal, 33(1), 7-41.
Kalimo, R., Taris, T. W., & Schaufeli, W. B (2003). The effects
of past and anticipated future downsizing on survivor wellbeing:
an equity perspective. Journal of Occupational Health
Psychology, 8(2), 91-109.
Kim, T. G., Hornung, S., & Rousseau, D. M (2011). Changesupportive
employee behavior: antecedents and the moderating
role of time. Journal of Management, 37, 1664-1693.
Kruglanski, A. P., A., Higgins, E., & Capozza, D. (2007). “On the
move” or “staying put”: Locomotion, need for closure, and
reactions to organizational change. Journal of Applied Social
Psychology, 37(6), 1305-1340.
Lau, C. M., & Woodman, R. (1995). Understanding organizational
change: a schematic perspective. Academy of Management
Journal, 38(2), 537-554.
Lima, S. M. V., & Bressan, C. L. (2003). Mudança Organizacional:
uma introdução. In S. M. V. Lima (Ed.), Mudança
Organizacional: teoria e gestão (pp. 17-63). Rio de Janeiro
FGV.
Lima Filho, D. O., Sproesser, R. L., & Hoffmann, G. H. (2005).
Reforma administrativa e resistências externas: um estudo de
caso. Revista de Administração Pública, 39(1), 123-13.
Lines, R. (2005). The Structure and Function of Attitudes Toward
Organizational Change. Human Resource Development Review,
4, 8-32. doi: 10.1177/1534484304273818
Meyer, J. P., Srinivas, E. S., Lal, J B., & Topolnytsky, L. (2007).
Employee commitment and support for an organizational
change: Test of the three-component model in two cultures.
Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology,
80(2), 185-211.
Neiva, E. R., Ros, M., & Paz, M. G. T. (2005). Attitudes towards
organizational change: validation of a scale. Psychology in
Spain, 9(1), 81-90.
Neiva, E. R., & Brito, M. J. P. (2008). Redes sociais e mudança
em uma associação de produtores rurais. Psicologia
(Florianópolis), 8, 5-24.
Neiva, E. R., & Paz, M. G. T. d. (2012). Percepção de mudança
individual e organizacional: o papel das atitudes, dos
valores, do poder e da capacidade organizacional. Revista de
Administração (São Paulo), 47, 22-37.
Neiva, E. R., & Nery, V. F (2012, july). Change reactions: The role
of change context and attitudes toward change. Paper presented
at the XXX International Congress of Psychology. In Abstracts
of the XXX International Congress of Psychology, International
Journal of Psychology, Volume 47, Cape Town, South Africa.
Neiva, E. R., Goulart, P. A. R., Fussi, C. C., & Nery, V. F. (2012,
setembro). Contexto e atitudes na mudança organizacional:
um estudo realizado em quatro organizações brasileiras. In:
XXXVI Encontro da ANPAD, 2012, Rio de Janeiro. Anais do
XXXVI Encontro da ANPAD, 2012. v. 1. p. 1-17.
Nery, V. F., & Neiva, E. R. (2012, maio). Construção e validação
do inventário de reações comportamentais à mudança
organizacional. V Congresso Brasileiro de Psicologia
Organizacional e do Trabalho. In: Anais do V Congresso
Brasileiro de Psicologia Organizacional e do Trabalho, Rio
de Janeiro/ RJ, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro -
UERJ, Brasil.
Oreg, S. (2003). Resistance to Change: Developing an Individual
Differences Measure. Journal of Applied Psychology, 88(4),
680-693.
Oreg, S., Vakola, M., & Armenakis, A. (2011). Change Recipients’
Reactions to Organizational Change: A 60-Year Review of
Quantitative Studies. The Journal of Applied Behavioral
Science. doi: 10.1177/0021886310396550
Pettigrew, A. M., Woodman, R. W., & Cameron, K. S. (2001).
Studying organizational change and development: challenges
for future research. Academy of Management Journal, 44(4),
697-713.
Piderit, S. K. (2000). Rethinking resistance and recognizing
ambivalence: A multidimensional view of attitudes toward
an organizational change. Academy of Management Review,
25(4), 783-794.
Rafferty, A. E., & Griffin, M. A. (2006). Perceptions of
Organizational Change: A Stress and Coping Perspective.
Journal of Applied Psychology, 91(5), 1154-1162.
Santos, J. N., Neiva, E. R., & Andrade-Melo, E. A. (2013).
Relação entre clima organizacional, percepção de mudança
organizacional e satisfação do cliente. Psicologia: Teoria e
Pesquisa, 29, 31-39.
Self, D., Armenakis, A., & Schraeder, M. (2007). Organizational
change content, process and context: A simultaneous analysis
of employee reactions. Journal of Change Management, 7(2),
211-229.
Trader-Leigh, K. E. (2002). Case study: Identifying resistance
in managing change. Journal of Organizational Change
Management, 15, 138-155.
Vakola, M., Tsaousis, L., & Nikolaou, L. (2004). The role of
emotional intelligence and personality variables on attitudes
toward organizational change. Journal of Managerial
Psychology, 19(2), 88-110.
Valley, K. L., & Thompson, T. A. (1998). Sticky ties and bad
attitudes: relational and individual bases of resistance to change
in organizational structure. In R. M. Kramer & M. A. Neale
(Eds.), Power and influence in organizations (pp. 39-66).
London: Sage publications, Inc.
Zamuto, R., & O´Connor E. (1992). Gaining advanced manufacturing
technologies benefits: the role of organizational design and
culture. Academy of Management Review, 17, 701-728.
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Published
2015-11-16
How to Cite
Nery, V. de F., & Neiva, E. R. (2015). Context Variables and Responses to Organizational Change:: Testing the Mediating Role of Attitudes. Psicologia: Teoria E Pesquisa, 31(2), 259–268. Retrieved from https://periodicos.unb.br/index.php/revistaptp/article/view/18114
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Estudos Empíricos
