Philippine E-Journals

Riding the Winds of Change: Facilitating Change Readiness in a Higher Education Institution

Maria Cecilia Remanente

Discipline: Education

 

Abstract:

This quantitative study sought the responses of 141 school employees as regards the implementation of changes currently besetting higher education institutions: legislated ones such as outcomes-based teaching and learning and the K to 12 program, and those designed to increase competitiveness, namely, program accreditation and ISO certification. The study variables— level of involvement, change response, and antecedents to change readiness (i.e., inclusiveness, communication, change fit, and organizational support)—were anchored on Lewin’s three-stage change model and Giangreco’s manifestations of change resistance. Higher levels of involvement and more positive response to legislated changes were seen among respondents in basic education than in the tertiary and academic support groups. Tests of concordance using Kendall’s tau-b revealed moderate, positive associations between employee involvement and change antecedents such as ensuring transparency of the process, clarifying participants’ roles, and change fit. Similar associations were found between employee response and change fit (i.e., the view that change initiatives are aligned with the institutional vision and mission and promote stakeholder interests). These findings were all statistically significant. One important study implication is the need to improve the provision of organizational support and promote inclusiveness to thwart employee resistance and strengthen change management within the organization.