Effect of authoritarian leadership on user resistance to change: evidence from IS project implementation in China

PurposeUser resistance to change has been identified as a significant cause of information system (IS) implementation failure. Previous studies have proposed antecedents of user resistance to change. However, whether project leadership (e.g. authoritarian leadership) can lead to user resistance to change remains unclear. By drawing on project leadership, affective event theory and contingency theory of leadership, the authors address this void by empirically examining whether authoritarian leadership can lead to user resistance to change through the mediation of negative emotion and whether the magnitude of this mediation depends on the power distance level.Design/methodology/approachThis study examines the authors’ research model that integrates authoritarian leadership, negative emotion, power distance and user resistance to change using data from a matched-pair survey of 278 users and their supervisors involved in IS project implementation in China.FindingsNegative emotion plays a mediating role in the relationship of authoritarian leadership and user resistance to change. In addition, power distance moderates the relationship between authoritarian leadership and negative emotion and the indirect effect of authoritarian leadership on user resistance to change in IS project implementation through negative emotion.Originality/valueThe authors’ research provides a comprehensive understanding of the antecedents of user resistance to change in IS project implementation and ultimately contributes to the IS project implementation literature and practice.

[1]  M. Lynne Markus,et al.  Power, politics, and MIS implementation , 1987, CACM.

[2]  D. A. Kenny,et al.  The moderator-mediator variable distinction in social psychological research: conceptual, strategic, and statistical considerations. , 1986, Journal of personality and social psychology.

[3]  Rudy Hirschheim,et al.  Information Systems and User Resistance: Theory and Practice , 1988, Comput. J..

[4]  D. Watson,et al.  Development and validation of brief measures of positive and negative affect: the PANAS scales. , 1988, Journal of personality and social psychology.

[5]  Kailash Joshi,et al.  A Model of Users' Perspective on Change: The Case of Information Systems Technology Implementation , 1991, MIS Q..

[6]  Blake E. Ashforth,et al.  Emotion in the Workplace: A Reappraisal , 1995 .

[7]  G. Graen,et al.  Relationship-based approach to leadership: Development of leader-member exchange (LMX) theory of leadership over 25 years: Applying a multi-level multi-domain perspective , 1995 .

[8]  H. Weiss,et al.  Affective Events Theory: A theoretical discussion of the structure, causes and consequences of affective experiences at work. , 1996 .

[9]  Steven Hornik,et al.  Passive resistance misuse: overt support and covert recalcitrance in IS implementation , 1996 .

[10]  Robert W. Zmud,et al.  An attributional explanation of individual resistance to the introduction of information technologies in the workplace , 1996, Behav. Inf. Technol..

[11]  P Collerette,et al.  [Case studies in research]. , 1997, Recherche en soins infirmiers.

[12]  Peter E.D. Love,et al.  Using systems dynamics to better understand change and rework in construction project management systems , 2002 .

[13]  Shaul Oreg,et al.  Resistance to change: developing an individual differences measure. , 2003, The Journal of applied psychology.

[14]  Bor-Shiuan Cheng,et al.  Paternalistic Leadership and Subordinate Responses: Establishing a Leadership Model in Chinese Organizations , 2007 .

[15]  Ronald T. Cenfetelli.  Inhibitors and Enablers as Dual Factor Concepts in Technology Usage , 2004, J. Assoc. Inf. Syst..

[16]  Antonio Giangreco,et al.  The nature and antecedents of middle manager resistance to change: evidence from an Italian context , 2005 .

[17]  Jason Bennett Thatcher,et al.  Moving Beyond Intentions and Toward the Theory of Trying: Effects of Work Environment and Gender on Post-Adoption Information Technology Use , 2005, MIS Q..

[18]  Martin Wetzels,et al.  Leadership styles in technology acceptance: do followers practice what leaders preach? , 2005 .

[19]  Suzanne Rivard,et al.  A Multilevel Model of Resistance to Information Technology Implementation , 2005, MIS Q..

[20]  Eric T. G. Wang,et al.  Effects of internal support and consultant quality on the consulting process and ERP system quality , 2006, Decis. Support Syst..

[21]  Elaine H. Ferneley,et al.  Resist, comply or workaround? An examination of different facets of user engagement with information systems , 2006, Eur. J. Inf. Syst..

[22]  Paul Legris,et al.  A Roadmap for it Project Implementation: Integrating Stakeholders and Change Management Issues , 2006 .

[23]  Rick D. Hackett,et al.  Individual-Level Cultural Values as Moderators of Perceived Organizational Support–Employee Outcome Relationships in China: Comparing the Effects of Power Distance and Traditionality , 2007 .

[24]  Chris Higgins,et al.  Charismatic leadership and user acceptance of information technology , 2007, Eur. J. Inf. Syst..

[25]  Qing Hu,et al.  Assimilation of Enterprise Systems: The Effect of Institutional Pressures and the Mediating Role of Top Management , 2007, MIS Q..

[26]  J. Edwards,et al.  Methods for integrating moderation and mediation: a general analytical framework using moderated path analysis. , 2007, Psychological methods.

[27]  Hee-Woong Kim,et al.  A balanced thinking-feelings model of information systems continuance , 2007, Int. J. Hum. Comput. Stud..

[28]  B. Schyns,et al.  Daily work contexts and resistance to organisational change : the role of leader-member exchange, development climate, and change process characteristics. , 2008 .

[29]  Khaled El Emam,et al.  A Replicated Survey of IT Software Project Failures , 2008, IEEE Software.

[30]  T. Scandura,et al.  Paternalistic Leadership: A Review and Agenda for Future Research , 2008 .

[31]  Viswanath Venkatesh,et al.  Technology Acceptance Model 3 and a Research Agenda on Interventions , 2008, Decis. Sci..

[32]  Chris Higgins,et al.  Top management support of enterprise systems implementations , 2009, J. Inf. Technol..

[33]  T. Judge,et al.  Can "good" stressors spark "bad" behaviors? The mediating role of emotions in links of challenge and hindrance stressors with citizenship and counterproductive behaviors. , 2009, The Journal of applied psychology.

[34]  Gwo‐Guang Lee,et al.  KMS adoption: the effects of information quality , 2009 .

[35]  Andrew D.F. Price,et al.  Framework for Managing Multicultural Project Teams , 2009 .

[36]  Atreyi Kankanhalli,et al.  Investigating user resistance to information systems implementation: a status quo bias perspective , 2009 .

[37]  Tim Klaus,et al.  User resistance determinants and the psychological contract in enterprise system implementations , 2010, Eur. J. Inf. Syst..

[38]  Stefan Fiedler,et al.  Managing resistance in an organizational transformation: A case study from a mobile operator company , 2010 .

[39]  Gwo-Guang Lee,et al.  The impact of empowering leadership for KMS adoption , 2011 .

[40]  Gary Klein,et al.  The role of team problem solving competency in information system development projects , 2011 .

[41]  Dennis F. Galletta,et al.  Research Note - Knowledge Exploration and Exploitation: The Impacts of Psychological Climate and Knowledge Management System Access , 2011, Inf. Syst. Res..

[42]  A. Tsui,et al.  Leadership behaviors and group creativity in Chinese organizations: The role of group processes ☆ ☆☆ , 2011 .

[43]  Hee-Woong Kim,et al.  The Effects of Switching Costs on User Resistance to Enterprise Systems Implementation , 2011, IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management.

[44]  Hans Wortmann,et al.  Risk Management Affecting IS/IT Project Success through Communicative Action , 2011 .

[45]  D. Shepherd,et al.  Moving Forward from Project Failure: Negative Emotions, Affective Commitment, and Learning from the Experience , 2011 .

[46]  David De Cremer,et al.  Leader mistreatment, employee hostility, and deviant behaviors: Integrating self-uncertainty and thwarted needs perspectives on deviance , 2012 .

[47]  Mohammad S. Khorsheed,et al.  InnoDiff: A project-based model for successful IT innovation diffusion , 2012 .

[48]  Shari S. C. Shang.  Dual strategy for managing user resistance with business integration systems , 2012, Behav. Inf. Technol..

[49]  Huiwen Lian,et al.  Does power distance exacerbate or mitigate the effects of abusive supervision? It depends on the outcome. , 2012, The Journal of applied psychology.

[50]  Amany R. Elbanna.  Top management support in multiple-project environments: an in-practice view , 2013, Eur. J. Inf. Syst..

[51]  Anand Jeyaraj,et al.  Information technology adoption and continuance: A longitudinal study of individuals' behavioral intentions , 2013, Inf. Manag..

[52]  Andreas Wald,et al.  The challenge of transactional and transformational leadership in projects , 2014 .

[53]  Shan Liu,et al.  Understanding the impact of risks on performance in internal and outsourced information technology projects: The role of strategic importance , 2014 .

[54]  Xiao-ping Chen,et al.  Affective Trust in Chinese Leaders , 2014 .

[55]  Yan Li,et al.  Traditional Chinese leadership and employee voice behavior: A cross-level examination , 2015 .

[56]  Marjan Krisper,et al.  Diagnosing organizational risks in software projects: Stakeholder resistance , 2015 .

[57]  Henry A. Hornstein,et al.  The integration of project management and organizational change management is now a necessity , 2015 .

[58]  Sandra Ohly,et al.  What Makes Us Enthusiastic, Angry, Feeling at Rest or Worried? Development and Validation of an Affective Work Events Taxonomy Using Concept Mapping Methodology , 2015 .

[59]  Stephen C. Wingreen,et al.  User Resistance Behaviors and Management Strategies in IT-Enabled Change , 2015, J. Organ. End User Comput..

[60]  Shan Liu,et al.  Effects of control on the performance of information systems projects: : The moderating role of complexity risk , 2015 .

[61]  Samar Mouakket,et al.  Assessing the impact of enterprise systems technological characteristics on user continuance behavior: An empirical study in China , 2015, Comput. Ind..

[62]  Heejin Lee,et al.  Effects of user experience on user resistance to change to the voice user interface of an in-vehicle infotainment system: Implications for platform and standards competition , 2016, Int. J. Inf. Manag..

[63]  Petros Ieromonachou,et al.  User resistance in IT: A literature review , 2016, Int. J. Inf. Manag..

[64]  Mark Grimshaw,et al.  User Resistance to Information System Implementations: A Dual-Mode Processing Perspective , 2016, Inf. Syst. Manag..

[65]  Sven Laumer,et al.  User personality and resistance to mandatory information systems in organizations: a theoretical model and empirical test of dispositional resistance to change , 2016, J. Inf. Technol..

[66]  Lin Wang,et al.  Influence of managerial control on performance in medical information system projects: The moderating role of organizational environment and team risks , 2016 .

[67]  Qing Hu,et al.  Effectiveness of top management support in enterprise systems success: a contingency perspective of fit between leadership style and system life-cycle , 2016, Eur. J. Inf. Syst..

[68]  Sven Laumer,et al.  Work routines as an object of resistance during information systems implementations: theoretical foundation and empirical evidence , 2016, Eur. J. Inf. Syst..

[69]  Jyoti Choudrie,et al.  Understanding individual user resistance and workarounds of enterprise social networks: the case of Service Ltd , 2016, J. Inf. Technol..

[70]  Shan Liu.  How the user liaison's understanding of development processes moderates the effects of user-related and project management risks on IT project performance , 2016, Inf. Manag..

[71]  Niels G. Noorderhaven,et al.  Transformational leadership and project success: The mediating role of team-building , 2016 .

[72]  Alexander Sánchez Rodríguez,et al.  Contingency theory to study leadership styles of small businesses owner-managers at Santo Domingo, Ecuador , 2017 .

[73]  Jan-Peter Ferdinand,et al.  The social dynamics of heterogeneous innovation ecosystems , 2017 .

[74]  Kailash Joshi,et al.  Examining the use of status quo bias perspective in IS research: need for re‐conceptualizing and incorporating biases , 2017, Inf. Syst. J..

[75]  Charmine E. J. Härtel,et al.  Using humor and boosting emotions: An affect-based study of managerial humor, employees’ emotions and psychological capital , 2017 .

[76]  Jong-Youn Rha,et al.  Understanding the role of user resistance on mobile learning usage among university students , 2017, Comput. Educ..

[77]  Yan Zhang,et al.  Authoritarian Leadership and Extra-Role Behaviors: A Role-Perception Perspective , 2017, Management and Organization Review.

[78]  Honglei Wang,et al.  The Positive Effect of Authoritarian Leadership on Employee Performance: The Moderating Role of Power Distance , 2018, Front. Psychol..

[79]  Ferry Koster,et al.  Managing Innovations: A Study of the Implementation of Electronic Medical Records in Dutch Hospitals , 2018 .

[80]  Sidney Newton,et al.  Testing a Model of User Resistance Towards Technology Adoption in Construction Organizations , 2018, International Journal of Innovation and Technology Management.

[81]  Mats Deutschmann,et al.  Exploring gender stereotypes about interpersonal behavior and personality factors using digital matched-guise techniques , 2019, Social Behavior and Personality: an international journal.

[82]  Wen-Yin Chen,et al.  The impact of inertia and user satisfaction on the continuance intentions to use mobile communication applications: A mobile service quality perspective , 2019, Int. J. Inf. Manag..

[83]  Shangpu Liu,et al.  Switching costs and benefits affect user resistance in project implementation: Roles of positive emotions and user traditionality , 2019, Social Behavior and Personality: an international journal.