Exploring Dispositional Resistance to Change

Abstract

The aim of the study was to explore the relationship between Oreg’s recently developed scale on Resistance To Change (RTC) and its four sub factors and personality traits of the Five Factor Model (FFM). The sample consisted of 259 participants. Findings revealed that neuroticism correlated positively with the RTC Scale, while extraversion, openness to experience and agreeableness showed negative correlations with the RTC scale. Neuroticism correlated positively with three of the RTC sub factors, Routine seeking (RS), Emotional reaction (ER), and Short-term thinking (ST) respectively. Extraversion correlated negatively with the same three factors. Openness to experience correlation negatively with RS, while agreeableness correlated negatively with RS and ST. Conscientiousness correlated negatively with ST, but positively with RS. A regression analysis supported most of these findings. Use of the RTC scale could have special implications for managers in organizations making them more aware of diversity among employees.