The role of organizational structure in readiness for change: A conceptual integration. (February 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Benzer, Justin K; Charns, Martin P; Hamdan, Sami; Afable, Melissa
• Is Part Of: Health services management research. Volume 30:Number 1(2017)
• Page Start: 34
• Page End: 46
• Publication Date: 2017-02
• Subjects: implementation science -- organizational context -- organizational innovation -- readiness for change; Public health administration -- Research -- Periodicals; Public health administration -- Study and teaching (Higher) -- Periodicals; Health services administration -- Research -- Periodicals; Health services administration -- Study and teaching (Higher) -- Periodicals; 362.1072
• DOI: 10.1177/0951484816682396
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0951-4848

Abstract

The purpose of this review is to extend extant conceptualizations of readiness for change as an individual-level phenomenon. This review-of-reviews focuses on existing conceptual frameworks from the dissemination, implementation, quality improvement, and organizational transformation literatures in order to integrate theoretical rationales for how organization structure, a key dimension of the organizational context, may impact readiness for change. We propose that the organization structure dimensions of differentiation and integration impact readiness for change at the individual level of analysis by influencing four key concepts of relevance, legitimacy, perceived need for change, and resource allocation. We identify future research directions that focus on these four key concepts.