The role of process, context and individual characteristics in explaining readiness to change: a multilevel analysis

Abstract

Organisational change often yields limited success. Failure in many cases is due to the motivation or readiness to change among employees. This article proposes and tests a multilevel model of readiness to change. Contrary to most works on readiness to change, readiness is conceptualised as a multifaceted construct (i.e. emotional involvement and commitment to change). Relationships of several context, process variables and locus of control with both components of readiness to change were examined. By means of a large scale survey administered in 56 public and private sector organisations, we collected 1,559 responses in total. Multilevel random coefficient modeling showed that a proportion of the total variance in emotional involvement and commitment to change is explained at the organizational level. Furthermore, the results indicated that the organization's change history, the sector (public versus private), participation in the change process and support of top management toward change are important variables in understanding readiness to change. Key words: commitment to change, context factors of change, emotional involvement, locus of control, multilevel analysis and process factors of change