The Effects of Organizational Restructuring and Acceptance of Change on Employees' Motivation

131 Pages·2017·1.48 MB·English

by  Eve Maria Fleming

Walden University
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Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
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2017
The Effects of Organizational Restructuring and
Acceptance of Change on Employees' Motivation
Eve Maria Fleming
Walden University
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Walden University

College of Education

This is to certify that the doctoral dissertation by

Maria Fleming

has been found to be complete and satisfactory in all respects,
and that any and all revisions required by
the review committee have been made.

Review Committee
Dr. Laura Weidner, Committee Chairperson, Education Faculty
Dr. Cheryl Keen, Committee Member, Education Faculty
Dr. Kathleen Lynch, University Reviewer, Education Faculty

Chief Academic Officer
Eric Riedel, Ph.D.

Walden University
2017
Abstract

The Effects of Organizational Restructuring and Acceptance of Change
on Employees’ Motivation
by
Eve Maria Fleming

MPA, University of the Virgin Islands, 2005
BA, University of the Virgin Islands, 1999

Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements for the Degree of
Doctor of Philosophy
Education

Walden University
2017
Abstract
Numerous internal and external factors drive decisions to undertake organizational
restructuring; according to senior management, restructuring is part of a strategic change.
The purpose of this qualitative, exploratory, case study was to examine the effects of
organizational restructuring on university employees’ behavior towards restructuring and
change in the effectiveness of the institution. The conceptual framework drew on the
social change theory, a primary triad model, and a congruence model for organization
problems to frame the guiding questions: how does restructuring impact employees’
motivation and acceptance of change and how does the employees’ acceptance of change
affect the institution’s effectiveness? From a purposeful sample of 130 employees at a
small land grant university who had experienced 2, 3, or 4 recent restructurings, 66
respondents answer the open-ended survey. The data also included historical documents
and interviews with 6 employees. All data were coded and categorized. Four themes
emerged. Employees were reluctant to embrace the change; employees not satisfied with
the communication process; employees experienced low motivation, attitude change, and
dwindling morale; and employees perceived that there were no significant changes in the
effectiveness of the institution. These findings indicate that management should devise
practical means by which to communicate, receive feedback, and encourage input from
the employees. Cultivating a better understanding of the challenges of the restructuring
process by management, can create an atmosphere whereby employees can see
themselves involved in the change process as implications for social change.
The Effect of Organizational Restructuring and Acceptance of Change on
Employees’ Motivation
by
Eve Maria Fleming

MPA, University of the Virgin Islands, 2005
BA, University of the Virgin Islands, 1999

Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements for the Degree of
Doctor of Philosophy
Education

Walden University
2017
Dedication
To the loving memory of my Mom, I wish you were here to witness this precious
moment. To my sister, Mary, who wished I would hurry and get on with my life, and to
my two sons, thank you!
Acknowledgments
First, I want to thank God for giving me the strength to endure to the end. I have
made it! Thank you, thank you Dr. Elizabeth Kehoe (former chair of my committee) for
the times you listened to me, frustrated and ready to give up, and gave me the
encouragement to continue; I have now arrived. Thanks also to Dr. Laura Weidner who
stepped in to be my committee chair and pledged to continue with me to the end. I relied
on her countless times during this journey, both personally and academically. Your
thoughtfulness, encouragement, and intelligence brought me through. To Dr. Keen, my
committee member and methodologist, thank you, thank you. Your insights in making
my work more succinct and ready for the best presentation, were phenomenal. I am lucky
to have had both of you on my committee. Without your guidance, this day would not
have been possible.
To my former supervisor and friend, who encouraged me to begin the program
and gave me guidance in selecting the best institution to commence my studies, thank
you. To my adopted mom, who encouraged me to continue when the nights were more
than nights. To my friends and lunch crew, thank you for your encouragement.
Table of Contents
List of Tables ……………………………………………………………………………. v
List of Tables .......................................................................................................................v
List of Figures .................................................................................................................... vi
Chapter 1: Introduction to the Study ....................................................................................1
Background ............................................................................................................. 4
Problem Statement .................................................................................................. 7
Purpose of the Study ............................................................................................... 9
Research Questions ............................................................................................... 10
Conceptual Framework ......................................................................................... 10
Nature of the Study ............................................................................................... 13
Definitions............................................................................................................. 14
Assumptions .......................................................................................................... 15
Scope and Delimitations ....................................................................................... 16
Limitations ............................................................................................................ 16
Significance........................................................................................................... 17
Summary ............................................................................................................... 18
Chapter 2: Literature Review .............................................................................................20
Literature Search Strategy............................................................................................20
Conceptual Framework ................................................................................................20
Literature Review on the Key Variables ............................................................................26
Leadership ....................................................................................................................28
i
Transformational leadership. ................................................................................ 28
Distributed patterns of leadership. ........................................................................ 30
Motivation ....................................................................................................................32
Effectiveness ......................................................................................................................36
Summary and Conclusions ................................................................................................39
Chapter 3: Research Method ..............................................................................................41
Research Design and Rationale .........................................................................................41
Role of Researcher .............................................................................................................44
Methodology ......................................................................................................................45
Population ....................................................................................................................46
Instrumentation ..................................................................................................................47
Sampling ............................................................................................................................49
Data Analysis Plan .......................................................................................................51
Summary ............................................................................................................................56
Chapter 4: Results ..............................................................................................................57
Setting 57
Demographics ..............................................................................................................58
Data Collection ..................................................................................................................61
Surveys .................................................................................................................. 61
Documents ............................................................................................................ 63
Field Notes ............................................................................................................ 64
Data Analysis ...............................................................................................................64
ii
Surveys .........................................................................................................................65
Interviews .....................................................................................................................65
Documents ...................................................................................................................66
Evidence of Trustworthiness........................................................................................68
Credibility ....................................................................................................................68
Transferability ..............................................................................................................69
Dependability ...............................................................................................................69
Confirmability ..............................................................................................................70
Results 70
Embracing the Change .......................................................................................... 71
Communication and Motivation ........................................................................... 73
Attitude and Morale .............................................................................................. 79
Effectiveness ......................................................................................................... 81
Summary ............................................................................................................................84
Chapter 5: Discussion, Conclusions, and Recommendation .............................................86
Introduction ........................................................................................................................86
Interpretation of the Findings.............................................................................................87
Limitations of the Study.....................................................................................................92
Recommendations ..............................................................................................................92
Implications........................................................................................................................93
Positive Social Change ................................................................................................95
Conclusions ........................................................................................................................95
iii