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Understanding and managing cynicism about organizational change
Abstract
Executive Overview Change is all about us, but many of its targets remain cynical about its impact and importance. Cynicism about organizational change often combines pessimism about the likelihood of successful change with blame of those responsible for change as incompetent, lazy, or both. Data from a new empirical study, and from previously published research, suggest numerous factors that contribute to the development of such cynicism. These include a history of change programs that are not consistently successful, a lack of adequate information about change, and a predisposition to cynicism. Results also suggest that cynicism about changes has negative consequences for the commitment, satisfaction and motivation of employees.
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“Some of the most focal negative reactions to organizational change are change fatigue and cynicism towards change.”
From Creating a workforce of fatigued cynics? A randomized controlled trial of implementing an algorithmic decision-making support tool (2024) · cites this paper as Reichers, Wanous, & Austin, 1997
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Items 701–722 of 722
How Readiness for Change Affects Intention to Use FinTech Services: Evidence from Gen X in Vietnam
Le, M.-D., & Nguyen-Le-Ngoc, M. (2026) · Lecture notes in networks and systems · doi:10.1007/978-3-032-00972-2_72
Gedik, İ. A., & Kıngır, S. (2025) · DergiPark (Istanbul University)
Bangura, S. (2026) · International Journal of Sustainability in Business and Economics · doi:10.51137/wrp.ijsbe.520
“Research indicates that numerous employees harbour deep-seated distrust toward their organisations (Reichers, Wanous, and Austin, 1997).”
Soyalın, M. (2021) · DergiPark (Istanbul University)
Panagiotounis, F., Saiti, A., & Ntalianis, F. (2026) · Research Square · doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-8853963/v1
Are Leaders Burned out During Organizational Change? An Emotion Regulation Study
Hudson, A. J., Jordan, P. J., & Troth, A. C. (2026) · Emerald Group Publishing Limited eBooks · doi:10.1108/s1746-979120260000020019
Achmet, V. (2026) · Revue de gestion des ressources humaines · doi:10.54695/grhu.139.0003
Işık, Ö., & Kavrayıcı, C. (2026) · Anadolu Journal Of Educational Sciences International · doi:10.18039/ajesi.1753795
IT Conflict Contagion : Action Research in a Consulting Firm
Saba, P. B. (2017) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/edbf45b5z95f1z4609z8d7cz6c836418bec0
Ferrari, F. (2026) · Journal of Organizational Change Management · doi:10.1108/jocm-04-2025-0347 · Cited by 1
Kim, T., & Jung, Y. (2026) · Public Personnel Management · doi:10.1177/00910260261447891
“It reflects a negative and distrustful attitude that employees hold toward their management, organization, or any changes their organization is facing, which can be detrimental to the organization (Abraham, 2000; Anderson 1996; Audenaert et al., 2021; Mirvis & Kanter, 1989; Reichers et al., 1997).”
Öz, H., GÜLBAHAR, B., & Turpçu, M. (2026) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1777604 · Cited by 1
“Organizational change cynicism refers to a pessimistic attitude toward change initiatives, characterized by skepticism about the likelihood of success and doubts regarding the sincerity or competence of those responsible for implementing change (Reichers et al., 1997; Wanous et al., 2000).”
AKYÜREK, M. İ., & Arslan, M. (2026) · Quality Assurance in Education · doi:10.1108/qae-02-2026-0061
Cisila, P., & Verma, G. G. (2026) · Journal of Further and Higher Education · doi:10.1080/0309877x.2026.2711357
“Previous studies also show that high stress, emotional exhaustion, and workplace harassment increase organisational cynicism (Johnson and O’Leary-Kelly 2003; Reichers, Wanous, and Austin 1997; Scott and Zweig 2016; Zhang and He 2024).”
Lakew, K. A. (2026) · Discover Sustainability · doi:10.1007/s43621-026-04186-6
“In low-trust environments, repeated policy discontinuities erode this foundation, prompting cynicism among implementers [25, 34].”
Suwito, B. M., Sabar, S., Sayatman, & Salsabila, M. A. (2026) · KnE Social Sciences · doi:10.18502/kss.v11i6.21564
AOURARH, Y., & Elkharraz, A. (2026) · Systems · doi:10.3390/systems14091173 · Cited by 1
Örgütsel Değişimin Sistemik Dinamikleri: Bütünleşik Bir Kavramsal Çerçeve
Erdurmazlı, E. (2026) · Özgür Yayınları eBooks · doi:10.58830/ozgur.pub1551.c6298
Marcin, Ł. (2010) · Zarządzanie Zasobami Ludzkimi
Metadata
- Authors
- Reichers, A. E., Wanous, J. P., & Austin, J. T.
- Venue
- Academy of Management Perspectives
- Publisher
- Academy of Management
- Published
- 1997-02
- Volume
- 11
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 48-59
- ISSN
- 1558-9080 (ISSN-L)
- 1943-4529
- OpenAlex
- W2118683451
- Cited by
- 722
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 19 · 2025: 16 · 2024: 23 · 2023: 31 · 2022: 38 · 2021: 39 · 2020: 29 · 2019: 36 · 2018: 40 · 2017: 35 · 2016: 41 · 2015: 33 · 2014: 43 · 2013: 36 · 2012: 30
- FWCI
- 15.68
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Academy of Management Perspectives (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management › Organizational Change and Leadership
- Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management › Job Satisfaction and Organizational Behavior
- Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management › Organizational Management and Change
- Keywords
- cynicism, organizational change, change management, employee commitment, job satisfaction, employee motivation, change failure
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