The Role of Structural and Behavioral Variables in Change Acceptance among Educational Administrators at Iran University of Medical Sciences

Authors

Keywords:

  Change acceptance rate, structural variables, behavioral variables, educational managers, Iran University of Medical Sciences

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the role of structural and behavioral variables in predicting change acceptance among educational administrators at Iran University of Medical Sciences. This applied study employed a descriptive–correlational design. The statistical population consisted of 600 employees of Iran University of Medical Sciences, from which 234 participants were selected through convenience sampling. Data were collected using Robert Heller’s Change Acceptance Questionnaire and a researcher-made structural and behavioral variables questionnaire, both demonstrating a Cronbach’s alpha reliability of 0.89. Data analysis was conducted using descriptive statistics and inferential methods, including multiple correlation and multivariate regression analysis. The results indicated a significant relationship between structural and behavioral variables and change acceptance. Structural components such as centralization, formalization, complexity, and authority, as well as behavioral components including motivation, personality, awareness, and values, significantly predicted change acceptance. Multivariate regression analysis demonstrated that both structural and behavioral variables contributed significantly to explaining the variance in change acceptance. The findings suggest that enhancing change acceptance among educational administrators requires simultaneous attention to organizational structural dimensions and behavioral factors, and that optimizing organizational structure alongside strengthening behavioral components can facilitate effective change implementation.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Agha Babaei, R., & Rahimi, H. (2016). Investigating the structural dimensions of knowledge-based organizations: Case study of Kashan University of Medical Sciences. Research in Medical Education, 8(2), 1-8. https://doi.org/10.18869/acadpub.rme.8.2.1

Agnew, M., & VanBalkom, W. D. (2019). Internationalization of the university: Factors impacting cultural readiness for organizational change. Intercultural Education, 20(5), 451-462. https://doi.org/10.1080/14675980903371324

Aprianto, R., Lukita, C., Sutarman, A., Sunarjo, R. A., Muti, R. N., & Dolan, E. (2025). Facing global dynamics with effective strategy: A tasted organizational change management approach. (Vol. 5, pp. 1-11)

Arshad, M. Z., Afzal, S., Farooq, M., Farooq, O., & Atif, M. (2025). The Effect of Organizational Identification on AIS Acceptance: How Gender and Collectivism Shape Usage Patterns. Journal of Accounting & Organizational Change. https://doi.org/10.1108/jaoc-05-2024-0165

Burke, W. W. (2019). Organization Change: Theory and Practice. Sage.

Burns, J., & Scapens, R. W. (2017). Conceptualizing management accounting change: An institutional framework. Management Accounting Research, 11(1), 3-25. https://doi.org/10.1006/mare.1999.0119

Cutcher, L. (2019). Resistance to change from within and without the organization. Journal of Organizational Change Management, 22(3), 275-289. https://doi.org/10.1108/09534810910951069

Davis, E., & Brown, R. (2024). Change Management Frameworks for Overcoming Resistance in Digital Initiatives: A Qualitative Analysis. Digital Transformation and Administration Innovation, 2(1), 25-30.

Esmaeili, M. (2020). Modeling the relationship between thinking styles and acceptance of change in elementary school teachers in Shahriar city Shahid Rajaee Teacher Training University, Faculty of Humanities].

Hayes, C. T., & Weathington, B. L. (2021). Optimism, stress, life satisfaction, and job burnout in restaurant managers. The Journal of psychology, 141(6), 565-580. https://doi.org/10.3200/JRLP.141.6.565-580

Heydari, T. (2018). Investigating the relationship between managers' thinking style and acceptance of organizational change in companies in Shahrood Industrial Park Islamic Azad University, Shahrood Branch].

Hodgson, V. J., & Zaaiman, J. J. (2013). Facilitative project management: Constructing a model for integrated change implementation by utilizing case studies. Sa Journal of Human Resource Management, 1(3), 45-53.

Hosseinpour, M., Karaei, A., & Hosseinpour, M. (2018). Predicting readiness to accept change among university employees based on organizational culture components. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Counseling, 10(37), 71-90.

Jašarević, F. (2019). Change management in education and its acceptance rate. Metodički obzori, 11(1), 92-101. https://doi.org/10.32728/mo.11.1.2016.06

Khan, M. I., Naim, A., Khan, M. F., & Balqis, S. N. (2025). Leadership and Change Management for Sustainable Healthcare in the Digital Era. 257-282. https://doi.org/10.4018/979-8-3693-8492-3.ch013

Komariyah, I. (2024). Exploring the Influence of Digital Transformation, Change Management, and Employee Engagement on Organizational Performance of Non Profit Organization in Indonesia. International Journal of Business Law and Education, 5(2), 2651-2662. https://doi.org/10.56442/ijble.v5i2.919

Li, F. (2024). Critically Unveiling Resistance: Strategies for Effective Change Management in Organizations. Academic Journal of Management and Social Sciences, 7(3), 157-160. https://doi.org/10.54097/y3ycxb90

Lunenburg, F. C. (2015). Forces for and resistance to organization change. National Forum of Educational Administration and Supervision Journal, 27(4), 1-10.

Mihm, J. L., Christoph, H., Wilkinson, D., & Huberman, B. A. (2018). Hierarchical structure and search in complex organizations. Management Science, 56(5), 831-848. https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.1100.1148

Nasiri Valikbani, F., & Shayegani Mani, S. (2016). Investigating the relationship between organizational structure and organizational development. Journal of Development and Transformation Management, 26(1), 45-51.

Saadi, M. (2020). Identifying and prioritizing the components of managers' changeability based on strategic readiness at Shahrood University of Medical Sciences Islamic Azad University, Shahrood Branch, Faculty of Humanities].

Salehi, T., & Dehghan-Nairy, N. (2016). Principles of Nursing Management. Bashari.

Shoghi, B., & Aghajani, T. (2013). Investigating the effect of organizational structure on organizational performance. Journal of Quantitative Studies in Management, 4(2), 79-96.

Stanleigh, M. (2019). Effecting successful change management initiatives. Industrial and Commercial Training, 40(1), 34-37. https://doi.org/10.1108/00197850810841620

Susilowati, Y. T. (2025). Optimizing Protocol Performance in the Digital Era: A Study of the Integration of Digital Leadership, Change Management, and Personal Competence in the Protocol Scope. Proceeding of the International Conference on Economics and Business, 3(2), 59-76. https://doi.org/10.55606/iceb.v3i2.448

You, S. W., & Park, J. H. (2024). The Impact of the High Commitment HRM System on Employees' Innovation Behavior: The Mediating Role of Acceptance of Organizational Change and the Moderating Role of HRM System Strength. The Academic Society of Global Business Administration, 21(1), 56-85. https://doi.org/10.38115/asgba.2024.21.1.56

Downloads

Publication Timeline

Published
Submitted
Revised
Accepted

Issue

Section

مقالات

How to Cite

Kipadkho, L. ., Sharifi, A., & Abdollahi, M. . (1406). The Role of Structural and Behavioral Variables in Change Acceptance among Educational Administrators at Iran University of Medical Sciences. Training, Education, and Sustainable Development, 1-14. https://journaltesd.com/index.php/tesd/article/view/362

Similar Articles

1-10 of 275

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.