I.T. changes

Abstract

Change is an organizational inevitability. There are few fields that undergo change more rapidly than information technology. Keeping up with the pace of change in a field so inclined toward change may take a unique toll on workers in information technology. Yet, little has been done to investigate workers' orientations toward change in this turbulent field. Accordingly, this research explores attitudes toward change and some possible related characteristics among individuals who work in the field of information technology. The primary purpose of this study was to explore the nature of resistance to change in information technology. The secondary purpose of this study was to discover potential relationships between resistance to change and several well-known motivational variables, specifically empowerment, engagement, and workaholism. Trust was included in this model as well because it has been shown to relate to both motivation and resistance to change and because trust is generally understood to be a characteristic that eases interaction and reduces transaction costs. This study used a web-based survey to collect responses from individuals employed in two medium-sized information technology organizations. Responses were analyzed using correlational, regression, path, and factor analyses to analyze participants' responses. Results indicated that resistance to change is a factor in information technology. Also, two of three motivational characteristics were related negatively to resistance to change. Trust was related negatively to resistance to change and positively to the same two motivational characteristics, but did not mediate the relationship between these variables. These findings are discussed in terms of their relevance to the study of information technology as they suggest possible implications for organizational functioning, individual well-being, technology adoption, coping, and innovation.