Change Reaction Starter Kit Author:John E. Jones, PhD and William Bearley, EdD Organizational change is happening all the time. And when change happens, people respond in particular ways whether or not they are aware of it. Understanding one s own reactions to change is the first step in dealing with change. An excellent starting point, Mastering Change Reaction is an effective learning tool for understanding pers... more »onal reaction to change. The 24-item instrument helps individuals learn about their typical reaction to change and identify ways to best manage it.
Learning Outcomes
Determine one s typical response to change: Resistant, Neutral, or Supportive
Explore the behaviors that characterize the three responses to change
Identify action steps one can take to embrace and foster change
Theory
Research indicates that organizations are in a continuous state of change and that some type of resistance is inevitable. No matter what type of reaction a person has, there is always motion in response to change:
Some people have a natural tendency to move toward or support change
Others are noncommittal and typically move away from change
Still others typically move against change by resisting it and creating resistance to change in others
How It Works
Using a pressure-sensitive form, individuals respond to 24 statements that describe different approaches to handling organizational change. After scoring is complete, participants chart their results by applying their data to the Change Reaction Profile. Sample profiles and interpretations of all possible reactions and combinations of reactions provide insight.
The Facilitator Guide includes optional activities that allow participants to compare their reactions with each other, share on-the-job change-related situations, and contribute ideas for handling change. In addition, each Participant Guide provides the Interpreting Your Profile section, which includes action planning.
Uses for Change Reaction
Change Reaction works well as a stand-alone instrument as well as an effective component in any change management program.
As a management training instrument, Change Reaction may be used to present the important aspects of change theory. In addition, it can be used to raise individual consciousness about people's responses to change, to plan more effective behavior, and to improve organizational support systems.
As an organization development diagnostic tool, Change Reaction has multiple uses, including:
Surveying norms regarding change
Generating "force field" analyses of the forces impacting the change process
Forming the basis for an educational intervention that will provide employees with information about themselves, change, and effects on the system as a whole. The Mastering the Change Curve Starter Kit comes with one Facilitator Guide and five Participant Guides. The 65-page Facilitator Guide includes:
Administrative guidelines
Background information
Change Reaction Model
Experiential Learning Methodology
Workshop design with preparation checklist and step-by-step instructions
Alternative training designs
Blank training outline
Optional activities
Sample copy of Participant Guide
CD-ROM containing Microsoft® PowerPoint® presentation and reproducible masters, including a Certificate of Achievement, Training Evaluation and overhead transparency masters