IBIMA Business Review | 2026
Authors: Voggenreiter F.; Pinheiro M.M.; Marques R.P.F.
DOI: 10.5171/2026.883467
Journal: IBIMA Business Review
Year: 2026
Publisher: IBIMA Publishing
Document Type: Article
Open Access: All Open Access; Gold Open Access
Cited by: 0
Research Motivation: Readiness for Change (RfC) is a key success factor for navigating organizational transformation. However, most existing models either focus exclusively on organizational or individual levels, lack empirical grounding, or fail to provide business-relevant decision support. This study addresses these limitations by developing and empirically validating an integrated, business-oriented framework for assessing RfC. Methodology: A structured questionnaire was designed based on 19 antecedents identified through systematic literature review. A total of 118 professionals across various industries evaluated the relevance, influence, and effectiveness of these antecedents. The analysis included internal consistency checks (Cronbach’s alpha), exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and oneway ANOVA and Welch’s ANOVA to test group differences. Findings: EFA confirmed a three-factor structure: Relational and Cultural Readiness, Contextual and External Readiness, and Psychological Readiness. Internal consistency was excellent (α = 0.946). While ANOVA results showed no significant differences in RfC across company size or change experience (p>0.05), medium-sized firms showed a descriptive trend toward higher readiness. Practitioner feedback identified leadership, communication, and motivation as the most critical and controllable antecedents. Implications: This study delivers a practical and empirically supported RfC measurement model applicable across industries. It enables businesses to systematically assess change readiness, identify specific gaps, and implement targeted interventions. As such, the tool contributes to more informed decision-making and strengthens organizational agility and resilience in dynamic markets. © 2026. Frank VOGGENREITER, Margarida M. PINHEIRO and Rui Pedro Figueiredo MARQUES.
Business-Centric Measurement Framework; Change Management Assessment; Organizational Readiness for Change