Table 16.2
Loading Dock One, an international products retailer, is going through organizational change. The entrance of several low cost retailers into their market of quality international gifts is forcing them to seek greater efficiencies so they can lower costs and prices. Unfortunately, their employees are resisting the changes. They understand competition is increasing, but they fear the changes will eliminate jobs or diminish the variety of their work. Not only are the employees resisting, but it seems that the way LDO has hired, trained, and rewarded employees also hinders the changes they want to make. Some managers also are resisting the change because they can see their staffs being reduced or their entire work units eliminated.
-Refer to Table 16.2. The initial organizational barrier to change seems to be:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Structural inertia refers to the barriers to change that are part of the organization's structure, such as policies, procedures, and routines that have become ingrained over time. In this case, the way LDO has hired, trained, and rewarded employees seems to be a hindrance to the changes they want to make, suggesting structural inertia as the initial barrier to change.

Table 16.2 Loading Dock One, an International Products Retailer, Is Going Through