Resistance To Change Among First Line Managers In Multinational Organizations In

This study was carried out to examine the relationship between resistance to change among the first-line managers and first line managers ’ competence, perceived cost and benefits of the change, and the level of involvement in change. Attempts were also made to determine the influence of demographic factors (i.e. age, marital status, gender and education level) on the resistance to change. A close ended structured questionnaire was circulated among the first line managers to randomly selected multinational organizations in Malaysia (Penang Island) and out of 250 questionnaires that were distributed, 112 were returned and used for statistical analysis. The major findings of the study showed that the more competent first-line managers are less resistant to change. It was also found out that if first line managers are given more authority on the perceived changes in the organizations they are less likely to resist changes. The first-line managers with higher career level are found to be less resistant t