Re: Resistance to Change LO1261

Dickover - Melvin E. (dickover@umd5.umd.edu)
Wed, 17 May 1995 08:07:20 -0400 (EDT)

Replying to LO1237 --

On Tue, 16 May 1995, Bernard Girard wrote:

> Replying to my post on resistance to change, Dickover - Melvin E. writes:
>
> >What we are discussing here is what to do when change needs to be made.
>
> Of course, but what does it mean? Who is to say the change needs to be
> made?

Any participant in the process who wants a change has the right to try to
change the system by influencing others. Competant participants will do a
better job, use more effective methods, etc. It would be oppressive to
try to remove the right to change systems from the participants.

If your point is that is it hard to "know" when the system should change,
you are right. Each person makes his choicie.

<interesting stuff about why people oppose change and whether resistance
is rational deleted>

On rationality of resistance: I don't think it is either rational or
irrational for systems to oppose change. Putting value judgements on it
is like judging whether gravity is rational or irrational. If systems
didn't resist change, they would come apart.

I return to my basic point. If I am trying to change the system, and it
isn't working, the problem is not resistance to change. The problem is I
am not using effective methods. Systems can be changed using effective
methods.

--
Mel Dickover  <dickover@umd5.umd.edu>