THE NIGERIAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY AND ANTHROPOLOGY
ISSN: 0331-4111
Volume 12, No. 2, (2014)
DOI: 10.36108/NJSA/4102/12(0280)
Psycho-Organizational Factors in Employee Acceptance of Organizational Change in the Federal Civil Service
Catherine Chovwen
Department of Psychology, University of Ibadan
chovwenc@yahoo.com
Abstract
Although change is constant, and thus, should be expected, studies have shown that individuals and groups resist change in most situations. This study particularly focused on factors that could promote acceptance of change among 257 management and nonmanagement staff in a bureaucratic public sector where ‘things are done as usual’. Specific variables of interest include personality and sense of competence, organizational support and culture as independent variables and acceptance of change as dependent variables. The results showed that openness to change and extraversion were positively related to acceptance; females were more favorably disposed to change than males and male and female management staff scored high on acceptance of change than non-management members. The results enhanced understanding of personality traits and organizational dynamics that propel individuals to accept change, reduce resistance as well as promote adaptation to change.
Keywords: organizational change, personality, competence, organizational culture, acceptance