FACTORS AFFECTING CHANGE READINESS - A CASE OF COMMERCIAL BANKS IN ETHIOPIA

This study attempted to determine the factors affecting employees’ readiness for change in the context of private commercial banks in a developing country context (Ethiopia). The researchers examined factors that affect employee’s readiness for change. A survey questionnaire and purposive sampling was used to collect 302 completely filled questionnaires. These responses are then considered for both descriptive and explanatory analysis. Employees at two major Ethiopian commercial banks were included in the study. The study found out that psychological capital, change attitude, work and supervisor relationships, management support, communication, and perception of change result affect change readiness significantly. The results of the study are based on how the participants perceive changes they experienced in the past. This limitation can be an opportunity for future research and comparative case studies. The presented result shed light regarding the effect of Individual, Organizational, and change related factors on change readiness in commercial banks; the research’s outcome provides useful input for commercial banks, policy makers and change managers in the study setting concerning the factors affecting change readiness. This study contributes to the current body of knowledge in the area of change readiness and the factors affecting it. It also addresses the under-explored financial sector in developing economies and examines the factors of change readiness from the perspectives of individuals, organizations, and change processes.