Working through resistance to change by using the “competing commitments model”

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a description of the “competing commitments model”.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper explores the “competing commitments model”.

Findings

The paper discovers that the competing commitment is a three‐stage process that is guided by: a set of questions that are designed to uncover the competing commitments; a process for determining the underlying assumptions at their core; and beginning the process of behavioural change. The “competing commitments model” is particularly useful in understanding conflicts in the diverse environment of digital library projects by providing the team members with a way to share (and work through) big assumptions that may fundamentally differ in any number of ways.

Originality/value

Exploring competing commitments is a positive approach for project team conflict resolution because it is not designed to identify “bad behavior” nor does it take a prescriptive approach in trying to fix behavior.

Citation

Cervone, H.F. (2007), "Working through resistance to change by using the “competing commitments model”", OCLC Systems & Services: International digital library perspectives, Vol. 23 No. 3, pp. 250-253. https://doi.org/10.1108/10650750710776378