***FROM THE PASSAGE BELOW PUT IN OWN WORDS DO NOT COPY UNLESS U ARE CITING In the article by Weber (2015), there is a statement about the importance of engaging those who will be impacted by change in the process of implementing change. The article further relates that initial efforts to foster change in the organization's strategic planning process were unsuccessful in part because of lack of engagement. Resistance to change and lack of trust are common experiences when an organization or community engages in change efforts.

In your initial post, discuss the principles for dealing with opposition or resistance in change efforts for the Riverbend City Strategic Planning Committee, as described in the media piece in the Studies for this unit. Is resistance a normal part of the process? Can it be used in the effort to promote change? How? Discuss the resistance presented by one of the members of the Riverbend City Strategic Planning Committee and critique the response or method of addressing the resistance that was used by the group leader. PARAGRAPH FORM***

The detailed information in the Weber et al. (2015) reading assignment states that one problem in making change is that "The process of change in federal agencies too often involves only sending out a memo followed by a very short implementation period." It continues, " For Strategic Communication Planning (SCP)'s implementation, there was an intensive effort to involve those affected by It in the design of the change."

Back to the Riverbend City Strategic Planning Committee scenario: Yes, resistance is a normal part of the process and can be used to promote change if intensive effort involves all stakeholders. Except Leighann Eliason, the county's Juvenile Justice System representative, who is optimistic about the effectiveness of the Northside Blues Blowout event and even promised to ask her brother, who has a band, to play at the event for less than he would have made at the club, the rest of the leaders from partner organization are pessimistic about the vent. The resistance presented by Father Junot Rivera, St. Francis Borgia Catholic Church, is not something I expected from a church leader whose mission was to help those who can not help themselves, in this case, underprivileged kids. Father Rivera mentioned to the team that he doesn't have any concerns about the event but blames some church members, saying they don't want the parish funds going to the concert. He also admitted that his church has a healthy mix of progressive forward-thinking, who loves the idea of his community getting involved with the Northside Youth Rise Initiative. If Father Rivera didn't have a problem with the event and some of his church members supported the idea of helping the youth, he was supposed to go ahead and support the event regardless of some opposing views.

Quincy Reeves, Franzen InterTech, remarks, " I am just not convinced," which may lead other members to follow his lead and become pessimistic about executing the event. Of all organizations, being a tech company, Mr. Reeve's organization may be the one that has the financial capacity to make this event happen. His lack of interest and excitement may be a reason for others to be reluctant. In the scenario for the Riverbend City Strategic Planning Committee, the principles for dealing with resistance for change can include acknowledging the concerns, having an open communication and building a solid foundation of trust and understanding. It is understood that resistance can be a normal concern for the change process, but it should be addressed whenever possible to get the source of positive feedback and insights to promote change and modifications needed. The event's predicted success is not consistent within the planning committee and there are some concerns about how it may turn out and there are also some high expectations for many committee members. A recommendation would be for the planning committee to come together with a plan of action for how the event can be different from previous years and what will be done to promote better and to get more people on board with the event to have positive success. Resistance is a normal part of any change process, and it can indeed be used to promote change. Humans naturally resist change, which is typically the result of worrying about the future, a sense of losing control, or doubts about one's own influence. It frequently occurs when new programs are introduced, policies are implemented, or within organizational change.

In the Riverbend City Strategic Planning Committee activity, Emile Solane was resistant to change because he was having hard time having the board commit to the concert financially. The board didn't like the idea of funds being spent on a concert and the concert being out of the budget that was already approved for the year. Emile's worry and resistance about the concert was warranted due to the board not being comfortable with funding the event. This is something I would have personally been worried about as well.