Resistir ou cooperar? Analisando os fatores que influenciam as reações individuais à mudança organizacional

Abstract

The aim of this research is to identify how individual and organizational variables affect workers’ reaction to resist or cooperate with organizational change. In order to test the research hypotheses, we investigated the implementation of the individual evaluation assessment of the Minas Gerais state employees, employing a survey in 679 public employees from the State Secretaries of Educations, Health, and Planning. The results indicate that the level of resistance to change is influenced largely by the difficulties in recognizing the organizational change process, followed by the teamwork influence, and the level of the perceived threat to social environment. Lastly, the organizational factors, such as previous unsuccessful changes and lack of organizational consistency, seem to exert less influence on the individual decision to resist. The major contribution of this research to the academy and organizations is to allow the identification of the main sources of resistance to change and the cooperation to change. Therefore, it may be possible to enhance the organizational change process at the public sector in order to meet public employees´ expectations and, ultimately, offer empirical support to public administration try to improve the quality of services to the population.