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The causal effects of referential vs ideological justification of change

The causal effects of referential vs ideological justification of change This paper details an experimental study (n=197) that explores how different types of managerial change justifications affect employees’ reactions. The purpose of this paper is to explore the impact of managerial justification of a controversial decision in referential terms, ideological terms or a combination of the two.Design/methodology/approachA randomized controlled experiment was used applying case-based video clips to ensure vividness and realism in the experimental manipulation.FindingsThe results show that referential justification caused a drop in the perceived trustworthiness of management, such that it reduced employees’ perceptions of the manager’s integrity. The effect was most pronounced in participants having elevated levels of dispositional resistance to change. The drop in perceived integrity was indirectly associated with reduced intention to support the change together with adverse affective and cognitive reactions to change.Originality/valueA robust test of different change justifications in a randomized, controlled setting, which also highlights the psychological mechanisms through which referential change justifications reduce follower trust. This result should help managers more readily understand the components of successful communication in organizational change. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Journal of Organizational Change Management Emerald Publishing

The causal effects of referential vs ideological justification of change

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References (39)

Publisher
Emerald Publishing
Copyright
© Emerald Publishing Limited
ISSN
0953-4814
DOI
10.1108/jocm-11-2018-0323
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

This paper details an experimental study (n=197) that explores how different types of managerial change justifications affect employees’ reactions. The purpose of this paper is to explore the impact of managerial justification of a controversial decision in referential terms, ideological terms or a combination of the two.Design/methodology/approachA randomized controlled experiment was used applying case-based video clips to ensure vividness and realism in the experimental manipulation.FindingsThe results show that referential justification caused a drop in the perceived trustworthiness of management, such that it reduced employees’ perceptions of the manager’s integrity. The effect was most pronounced in participants having elevated levels of dispositional resistance to change. The drop in perceived integrity was indirectly associated with reduced intention to support the change together with adverse affective and cognitive reactions to change.Originality/valueA robust test of different change justifications in a randomized, controlled setting, which also highlights the psychological mechanisms through which referential change justifications reduce follower trust. This result should help managers more readily understand the components of successful communication in organizational change.

Journal

Journal of Organizational Change Management – Emerald Publishing

Published: Sep 20, 2019

Keywords: Integrity; Trust; Organizational change; Social accounts; Change reactions

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