Evolving emotional experiences following organizational change: a longitudinal qualitative study
Qualitative Research in Organizations and Management
ISSN: 1746-5648
Article publication date: 8 June 2015
Abstract
Purpose
There is a lack of qualitative longitudinal studies in the literature exploring the complexity and dynamism of affective experience during phases of organizational change. The purpose of this paper is to explore the nature and intensity of emotional reactions to change and the contextual triggers that made them vary.
Design/methodology/approach
In total, 11 nurses in a Norwegian public hospital were interviewed at three points in time about a change in technology, one month prior to implementation, three months after implementation and one year after implementation. They were asked to reflect “forwards” and “backwards” about their emotional experiences to the technical change in particular and to other changes occurring at work.
Findings
The informants reported mixed emotional experiences to change at all three interviews. Emotion terms such as “uncertainty”, “joy” and “resignation” were reported at all times, “anxiety and “excitement” were only reported at Times 1 and 2 whereas “frustration” and “cynicism” were only reported at Times 2 and 3.
Research limitations/implications
A larger group of informants would have produced greater insight into the evolving emotional change experiences. Further research could explore other contexts and a wider range of data collection methods.
Originality/value
This is a rare qualitative study of emotional change experiences where the informants were interviewed three times.
Keywords
Citation
Giæver, F. and Smollan, R.K. (2015), "Evolving emotional experiences following organizational change: a longitudinal qualitative study", Qualitative Research in Organizations and Management, Vol. 10 No. 2, pp. 105-133. https://doi.org/10.1108/QROM-11-2013-1185
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2015, Emerald Group Publishing Limited