Resistance to change

Introduction Resistance to change refers to actions that groups of people or individuals take when a change occurs in their environment and they perceive that change as a threat to their wellbeing. This implies that the perceived threat may not be real for the resistance to change to take place.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Resistance to Change specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The phrase ‘resistance to change’ is mostly used in organizations that face resistance when implementing strategic changes in their operations, portfolios, management, etc. It can however be applied in any situation where people resist change for a variety of reasons (Heathfield 1). This paper defines resistance to change, explains why people resist change, and explores the forms that resistance to change take. Why people resist change One of the main reasons why people resist change is ambiguity. People will read sinister m otives in cases where change is imposed on them without proper explanations being made. The reason for change should therefore be clear to the affected parties in order to avoid resistance. Similarly, if the change agents do not consult the affected people during the change process, the latter are likely to resist the change. Organizations that impose changes as accomplished facts and those that do not communicate sufficiently to the affected people during the change process are likely to face greater resistance. Resistance to change is also greater in cases where pre-established working relations are threatened by the change. People affected by change also tend to resist changes if the benefits of the changes are outweighed by the challenges of the process of change and the challenges of the change itself. Changes that threaten the status, jobs, or power of people in an organization are also likely to face more resistance (Heathfield 1). Forms of resistance to change Resistance can be implicit or overt. Implicit resistance is the kind of resistance where people resist a certain change without being too vocal about it. It is common in cases where affected people are not allowed to disapprove management decisions openly. For instance, if an organization changes the technology it uses in its operations, workers may resist this change implicitly by being unreasonably slow. On the other hand, overt resistance is the form of resistance in which the people resisting change make their feelings about the change known. This may be in boardrooms or in a strike (Ford 1).Advertising Looking for essay on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Additionally, resistance can be deferred or immediate. In deferred resistance, the affected people take some time to evaluate the change before they resist to the change. In immediate resistance, the affected people express their displeasure towards the change right after t he organization proposes the changes (Ford 1). Finally, resistance can cause functional conflict or dysfunctional conflict. Functional conflict means that the resistance to change helps the organization in achieving its goals. On the other hand, dysfunctional conflict means that the resistance to change leads to the organizations inability to attain its goals fully. It is therefore important to note that resistance to change is not always bad. Thus, resistance to change can benefit the organization in the end (Ford 1). Conclusion As evidenced in the discussion above, resistance to change is a major issue in organizations. It can result from real concerns by the affected people and it can be because of unjustifiable fears. Regardless of the cause, resistance to change takes a variety of forms that organization can use to develop effective corrective interventions. Works Cited Ford, Jeffrey. Decoding Resistance to Change. 2009. Web. Sep 26. 2012. https://hbr.org/2009/04/decoding-resis tance-to-change Heathfield, Susan. How to Reduce Resistance to Change. 2012. Web. Sep 26. 2012. https://www.thebalancecareers.com/how-to-reduce-employee-resistance-to-change-1918992 This essay on Resistance to Change was written and submitted by user Hindsight Lad to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Taking Action on Earth Day

Taking Action on Earth Day Every year, people all around the world come together to celebrate Earth Day. This annual event is marked by lots of different activities,  from parades to festivals to film festivals to running races. Earth Day events typically have one theme in common: the desire to show support for environmental issues and teach future generations about the need to protect our planet. The First Earth Day The very first Earth Day was celebrated on April 22, 1970. The event, which some consider to be the birth of the environmental movement, was founded by United States Senator Gaylord Nelson. Nelson chose the April date to coincide with spring while avoiding most spring break and final exams. He hoped to appeal to college and university students for what he planned as a day of environmental learning and activism. The Wisconsin Senator decided to create an Earth Day after witnessing the damage caused in  1969 by a massive oil spill in Santa Barbara, California. Inspired by the student anti-war movement, Nelson hoped that he could tap into the energy on school campuses to get kids to take notice of issues such as air and water pollution,  and put  environmental issues onto the national political agenda. Interestingly, Nelson had tried to put the environment on the agenda within Congress from the moment he was elected to office in 1963. But he as repeatedly told that Americans were not concerned about environmental issues. So Nelson went straight to the American people, focusing his attention on college students.   Participants from 2,000 colleges and universities, roughly 10,000 primary and secondary schools and hundreds of communities across the United States got together in their local  communities  to mark the occasion of the very first Earth Day. The event was billed as a teach-in, and event organizers focused on peaceful demonstrations that supported the environmental movement. Almost 20 million Americans filled the streets of their local communities on that first Earth Day,  demonstrating  in  support of environmental issues in rallies large and small all across the country. Events focused on  pollution, the dangers of pesticides, oil spill damage, the loss of wilderness, and the extinction of wildlife. Impacts of Earth Day The first Earth Day led to the creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the passage of the  Clean Air,  Clean Water, and  Endangered Species  acts. It was a gamble, Gaylord later recalled, but it worked. Earth Day is now observed in 192 countries, and celebrated by billions of people around the world. Official Earth Day activities are coordinated by the nonprofit, Earth Day Network, which is  chaired by the first Earth Day 1970 organizer, Denis Hayes. Over the years, Earth Day has grown from localized grassroots efforts to a  sophisticated network of environmental activism. Events can be found everywhere from tree planting  activities  at your local park to  online Twitter parties that share information about environmental issues. In 2011,  28 million trees were planted in Afghanistan by the Earth Day Network as part of their Plant Trees Not Bombs campaign. In 2012, more than 100,000 people rode bikes in  Beijing to raise awareness about climate change and help people learn what they could do to protect the planet. How can you get involved? The  possibilities  are endless.  Pick up trash in your neighborhood. Go to an Earth Day festival. Make a commitment to reduce your food waste or electricity use. Organize an event in your community. Plant a tree. Plant a garden. Help to organize a community garden. Visit a national park. Talk to your friends and family about environmental issues such as climate change, pesticide use, and pollution.   The best part? You dont need to wait until April 22 to celebrate Earth Day. Make every day Earth Day and help to make this planet a healthy place for all of us to enjoy.