Table of Contents

1. Introduction..........................................................................................................................................1
2. Objective of the article...........................................................................................................................1
3. Methodology employed in the study......................................................................................................1
3.1 Research Design................................................................................................................................1
3.2 Target Population.............................................................................................................................2
3.3 Sampling technique..........................................................................................................................2
3.4 Type of Data and Method of Data Collection....................................................................................2
3.5 Method of data analysis...................................................................................................................2
4. Key issues discussed in the article..........................................................................................................3
5. Finding or result of the article................................................................................................................4
6. Possible lessons learnt from the article..................................................................................................4
7. Conclusion in line with my understanding..............................................................................................5
8. My general impression about the article................................................................................................5

0
 1. Introduction
The article under review is about determination of factors that attribute to the resistance of
change management in the case of Commercial Bank of Ethiopia. It is well articulated and
organized research article published by an Ethiopian scholar by the time working as a general
director of Entoto and Surrounding Tourist Destination Development (ESTDD) Project.

2. Objective of the article

The main objective of the article is to determine the factors that attribute to the resistance of
change management in the case of Commercial Bank of Ethiopia.

Specifically, it aims;

 To find out the degree of significance of each of the agreed sources of resistance to
change with respect to the Kurt Lewin’s three phases of change management process

 To determine whether demographic attributes of an employee like age, gender,

education and experience have any significance to resistance to change management

 To determine the significance level of personal vulnerability on resistance to change

management.

3. Methodology employed in the study

3.1Research Design
This research is interested to study the cause and effect relationship of each of the independent
variables and the dependent variable on resistance to change. So, apparently, it follows causal
research design.
A causal type of design is used because;

 It is concerned with describing the causal relationships of the variables

 It believes that variations in the independent variable will be followed by variations in

the dependent variable, when all other things are equal, and so do the hypothesis of the
current study.

1
 3.2 Target Population
The population taken for this study is the employees of the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia.
The main reason for selecting Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE) as a population was due
to that the bank has made a second order or major change by BPR.

3.3 Sampling technique

The sampling used is hierarchical; meaning, non-probability sampling methods in taking
profile but probability sampling to observe a case. This is because according to Levy &
Merry (1986), those who found in higher organizational structure of the bank may have
better sight of the situation in change process and are better part of the change as it will affect
the hierarchy, strategy and role of the position that they work at. But from among the same
profile probability sample selection is used.

3.4 Type of Data and Method of Data Collection

The data taken constituted primary data only, as it has something to do with the behavioral
science and this study believes that behaviors is better studied primarily in person, not from
documents.
In addition, quantitative type of data was required for the study. But to entertain qualitative
ideas, a qualitative questionnaire was designed in such a way that it can be changed in to
quantifiable one during analysis so that the data could be processed in inferential statistics.
Therefore, the research was carried out based on questionnaire distributed to respondents.
In addition, respondents were asked to give their confirmation or disconfirmation on indirect
statements that talk about how much the before-mentioned sources of resistance had affected
their tendency to resist. Respondents had to indicate their position among two points on that
continuum. Scoring 0 to indirectly talk that it was not a source of resistance at all, and 1 to
mean that such source of resistance had contributions to the tendency to resist but not
necessarily that it either made the change agents to rethink on the change strategy and process
or had slowing effect on implementation.

2
 3.5 Method of data analysis
For the reason that title of the study is binary categorical in its very nature, applying logit
regression model of data analysis seems meaningful and appropriate than other analysis and
regression models.

So that, the article uses quantitative analysis through binary logit regression modeling

The function is; R = f (H, M, V)

Where;
R = the tendency to resist
H = Demographic attributes
M = Managerial incapability
V = Vulnerability driven factors

Besides to this, the article used descriptive statistics to describe the sample characteristics.

4. Key issues discussed in the article

As described previously, the main objective of the article is to determine factors that attribute to
the resistance of change management in the case of Commercial Bank of Ethiopia.

In doing so, and in its literature review part, the study discussed about:
 Theoretical and empirical backgrounds of Change Management

 Theoretical and empirical backgrounds of sources of resistance to change, and

resistance to change management
In addition, the article used Lewin’s Three Phase Theory of change management model in order
to identify independent variables that affect resistance to change. Therefore, the article specifically
discussed about Lewin’s Three Phase Theory of change management elements such as:

Stage 1 – Unfreezing

This phase of change is built on the theory that human behavior is established by Past
observational learning and cultural influences. Change requires adding new forces for change
or removal of some of the existing factors that are at play in perpetuating the behavior. The
unfreezing process has three sub-processes that relate to a readiness and motivation to change
for proper unfreezing to occur. It includes:

3
  Disconfirmation of the validity of the status quo: where present conditions lead to
dissatisfaction. However, the larger the gap between what is believed and what needs to
be believed for change to occur, the more likely the new information will be ignored.

 The induction of guilt or survival anxiety: previous beliefs now being seen as invalid
creates “survival anxiety.” However, survival anxiety may not be sufficient to prompt
change if learning anxiety is present.

 Creating psychological safety: learning anxiety triggers defensiveness and resistance

due to the pain of having to unlearn what had been previously accepted. Three stages
occur in response to learning anxiety: denial; scapegoating & passing the buck; and
maneuvering & bargaining.

Stage 2 –Changing (Moving)

A concise view of the new state is required to clearly identify the gap between the present
state and that being proposed. Activities that aid in making the change include imitation of
role models and looking for personalized solutions through trial-and-error learning.
Stage 3 – Refreezing
Refreezing is the final stage where new behavior becomes habitual and the change permanent
which includes developing a new self-concept & identity and establishing new interpersonal
relationships. It seeks to stabilize the group at a new quasi-stationary equilibrium in order to
ensure that the new behaviors are relatively safe from regression.

5. Finding or result of the article

The followings are objective results drawn from quantitative analysis of the study:

 Resistance factors significance level present variations considering the phase of

change process;
 Vulnerability driven factors present highest significance level for resistance to
change in the unfreezing and moving phases of a change process while managerial
incapability driven in the refreezing one.
 Educational attainment negatively predicts resistance to organizational change
process
 Experience positively predicts resistance to organizational change process

4
  Age and gender don’t predict resistance to organizational change process

6. Possible lessons learnt from the article

The article is an empirical study to determine factors that attribute to the resistance of change
management in the case of Commercial Bank of Ethiopia. In addition, the article uses
quantitative inferential statistics technique to analyze data obtained through questioners.

Therefore, the two important lessons I have learned from the article are:

 Theoretical and empirical backgrounds of resistance to change and management of

resistance to change

 Brilliant quantitative research methodology employed by the article, and it is described in

the methodology section of the review

7. Conclusion in line with my understanding

Resistance to change is a natural phenomenon especially where the change brought major change
in the organizational structure and human resource. Business Process Reengineering (BPR) is also
believed to bring major structural changes in the organization.
Therefore, all the identified variables of demography, vulnerability and managerial incapability
could be determining factors of resistance to change in all the stages of the change process such as
unfreezing, changing (moving) and refreezing.

8. My general impression about the article

First of all I am glad to review my country man research article published on international
journal. Beside this, my general impression about the article under review is that literatures
related to the topic are exhaustively reviewed, the methodology employed is brilliant, and the
results of the analysis are properly interpreted and presented.