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Explaining Employee Engagement with Strategic Change Implementation: A Meaning-Making Approach

Author

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  • Scott Sonenshein

    (Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Management, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005)

  • Utpal Dholakia

    (Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Management, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005)

Abstract

Using a framework of meaning-making derived from social psychological research on how individuals manage adverse life events and research on sensemaking, we develop and test a theory about how frontline employees overcome the challenges of implementing strategic change. We find that certain types of meaning-making (strategy worldview and benefits finding) can create the requisite psychological resources that facilitate employees engaging in change implementation behaviors. The meaning-making change adaptation model (MCAM) we develop helps explain when and how employees adapt to change, thereby opening the “black box” of how to facilitate more effective strategic change implementation. We develop and empirically test the MCAM using qualitative and quantitative data from a Fortune 500 retailer.

Suggested Citation

  • Scott Sonenshein & Utpal Dholakia, 2012. "Explaining Employee Engagement with Strategic Change Implementation: A Meaning-Making Approach," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 23(1), pages 1-23, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:ororsc:v:23:y:2012:i:1:p:1-23
    DOI: 10.1287/orsc.1110.0651
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    6. Julia Balogun & Jean M. Bartunek & Boram Do, 2015. "Senior Managers’ Sensemaking and Responses to Strategic Change," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 26(4), pages 960-979, August.
    7. Ra'ed (Moh'd Taisir) Masa'deh, Dr. & Haneen Yaseen & Yasar Shatnawi & Bader Obeidat, Dr., 2018. "Reviewing the Literature of the Effect of Talent Management on Organizational Effectiveness," Journal of Social Sciences (COES&RJ-JSS), , vol. 7(2), pages 139-156, April.
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    10. Mulki, Jay & Lassk, Felicia G., 2019. "Joint impact of ethical climate and external work locus of control on job meaningfulness," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 99(C), pages 46-56.
    11. Asta Valackiene & Ieva Meidute-Kavaliauskiene & Renata Činčikaitė, 2021. "Ensuring Employee Job Security When Implementing Changes in the Company: A Case Study of Lithuanian Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-19, July.
    12. Rory McDonald & Cheng Gao, 2019. "Pivoting Isn’t Enough? Managing Strategic Reorientation in New Ventures," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 30(6), pages 1289-1318, November.
    13. Chatterjee, Sheshadri & Chaudhuri, Ranjan & González, Vanessa Izquierdo & Kumar, Ajay & Singh, Sanjay Kumar, 2022. "Resource integration and dynamic capability of frontline employee during COVID-19 pandemic: From value creation and engineering management perspectives," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 176(C).
    14. Tariq Mahadeen & Kostas Galanakis & Elpida Samara & Pavlos Kilintzis, 2021. "Heuristics and Evidences Decision (HeED) Making: a Case Study in a Systemic Model for Transforming Decision Making from Heuristics-Based to Evidenced-Based," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 12(4), pages 1668-1693, December.
    15. Soo Jin Baik & Hae-Deok Song & Ah Jeong Hong, 2018. "Craft Your Job and Get Engaged: Sustainable Change-Oriented Behavior at Work," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-13, November.
    16. Ann‐Kristin Weiser, 2021. "The Role of Substantive Actions in Sensemaking During Strategic Change," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 58(3), pages 815-848, May.
    17. Constantinos Choromides, 2021. "Leading change in Financial Service Organisations: An Exploration of Employees’ Perceptions of Management of Change Using an Organisational Justice Framework," SPOUDAI Journal of Economics and Business, SPOUDAI Journal of Economics and Business, University of Piraeus, vol. 71(3-4), pages 67-97, July-Dece.
    18. Matt Statler & David Oliver, 2016. "The Moral of the Story: Re-framing Ethical Codes of Conduct as Narrative Processes," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 136(1), pages 89-100, June.
    19. Dorothea Kossyva & Georgios Theriou & Vassilis Aggelidis & Lazaros Sarigiannidis & Dimitrios Chatzoudes, 2021. "Retention of Generation Y Employees through High Performance Work Systems, Change Management and Employee Engagement," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(4B), pages 66-86.

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