Measuring organizational readiness for change: an

ongoing journeyBryan J. Weiner, Ph.D.

Shoou-Yih Daniel Lee, Ph.D.

Department of Health Policy and ManagementGillings School of Global Public Health

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

How did we define readiness?

• A two-dimensional construct reflecting organizational members’ collective commitment and collective efficacy to implement an organizational change

– Collective commitment refers to organizational members’ shared resolve to pursue courses of action that will lead to successful change implementation

– Collective efficacy refers to organizational members’ shared belief in their conjoint capabilities to organize and execute the courses of action required to implement change successfully

• Key features:– Capture both motivation and capability

– Reference collective (organizational) versus individual readiness for change

– Treat readiness as perceptual versus structural construct

– Focus construct on implementation rather than on adoption

What did we want in our measure?

• Keep measure “pure” (exclude potential determinants)

• Balance generic versus specific item content (make it reusable)

• Give measure a specific change referent (differentiate from culture)

• Make measure group-referenced (focus on collective readiness)

• Develop something short and simple (8-10 items maximum)

What was our overall approach?

• Keep measure “pure” of potential determinants– Develop a conceptual model of organizational readiness for change– Work deductively rather than inductively to develop item pool

• Balance generic versus specific item content– Develop a broad item pool to capture many aspects of efficacy– Keep item wording general and put specifics in parentheses

• Give measure a specific change referent– Use instructions to direct people’s attention to specific change– Provide written synopsis of specific change

• Make measure group-referenced– Use instructions to direct people’s attention to reference group– Use item wording to direct people’s attention to collectivity

• Develop something short and simple– Create item bank to permit tailoring

What was our conceptual model?

Organizational Readiness to Change

• Change commitment• Change efficacyResource Availability

• Human resources • Financial resources• Material resources

Task Requirements• Knowledge of task demands• Knowledge of resource demands• Knowledge of time/effort demands

Situational Factors• Competing demands• Time availability• Timing

Change Valence• Perceived need for change• Relative advantage of change• Appropriateness of change

Implementation Effectiveness

• Consistency of use• Quality of use

How did we proceed?

• Develop item pool from readiness/change management literature

• Conduct content adequacy test to check item-construct alignment

• Revise item wording/pool based on content adequacy test

• Conduct pilot test to check presumed factor structure and reliability

• ….Develop R21 proposal to move beyond pilot stage….

• But then…..along came the “HTN Improve” study

How did we measure change commitment?

• Provide written description of program (with bulleted summary) • Define “implementation group” and “user group”• Measure perceived change commitment of implementation group:

1. Not at all 2. A little 3. Fairly 4. Very 5. DK

– How committed is the implementation group to implementing this program?

– How motivated is the implementation group to implement this program?

– How willing is the implementation group to implement this program?

– How much does the implementation group want to implement this program?

• Repeat in order to measure change commitment of user group

How did we measure change efficacy?

• Measure perceived change efficacy of implementation group

1. Not at all 2. A little 3. Fairly 4. Very 5. DK

How confident are you that the implementation group can:

– Effectively use the resources that are currently available to implement this program?

– Encourage clinicians to try using this program (e.g., refer patients)?

– Effectively coordinate the efforts of those involved in implementing this program?

– Support clinicians as they adjust their clinical practice in response to this program?

– Effectively solve problems that might arise in implementing this program?

Where are we going?

Innovator

Broker

Producer

DirectorCoordinator

Monitor

Mentor

Facilitator

Source: Quinn, RE. (1988) Beyond Rational Management. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Internal Process

Human Relations Open Systems

Rational Goal

What are some sample items?

1. Not at all 2. A little 3. Fairly 4. Very 5. DK

How confident are you that the implementation group can:

– Develop an effective strategy or plan for implementing this change? (director)– Keep the momentum going in implementing this change? (producer)– Hold people accountable for implementing this change (monitor)– Coordinate tasks so that implementation goes smoothly? (coordinator)– Support people as they adjust to this change? (mentor)– Get people involved and invested in implementing this change? (facilitator)– Improvise when problems arise implementing this change? (innovator)– Manage the politics of implementing this change? (broker)

Working on developing 2-3 items per change management role/task

Want more information?Want more information?Bryan Weiner, Ph.D.

Department of Health Policy and Management

Gillings School of Global Public Health

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Bryan_Weiner@unc.edu

919-966-7375