Getting to diversity: an examination of the antecedents and outcomes of resistance to diversity-related organizational change
International Journal of Organization Theory & Behavior
ISSN: 1093-4537
Article publication date: 5 January 2023
Issue publication date: 23 May 2023
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study was to investigate the contributors to individual resistance to diversity-related organizational change (DROC) and how it might be reduced.
Design/methodology/approach
From survey data collected through three separate samples of the US population, the study tested the antecedents and outcomes of resistance to DROC and the moderating effect of organizational justice on these relationships.
Findings
Findings reveal that attitudes about workplace diversity are influenced by individual factors (sex and race), which in turn are significantly related to individual resistance to DROC. Independently, organizational justice moderated the effects of employee attitudes and perceived threats on resistance to DROC, suggesting that resistance is increased when employees perceive they are treated justly.
Originality/value
This is the first known study to investigate resistance to DROC as well as its potential antecedents and outcomes. Findings suggest that organizational justice is an important consideration in implementing DROC.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
Funding: The study is funded by Athabasca University under the award number 24235.
Citation
Workman-Stark, A. (2023), "Getting to diversity: an examination of the antecedents and outcomes of resistance to diversity-related organizational change", International Journal of Organization Theory & Behavior, Vol. 26 No. 1/2, pp. 1-20. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOTB-04-2022-0077
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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