The Change Challenge: Understanding Resistance in China’s Public Sector Tobacco Industry

Wanxian Deng, Siti Noormi Alias, Ahmad Aizuddin Md Rami and Ismi Arif Ismail
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Wanxian Deng: Department of Professional Development and Continuing Education, Faculty of Educational Studies, University Putra Malaysia, 43400 Selangor, Malaysia, Yuxi Normal University, 653100 Yunnan, China
Siti Noormi Alias: Department of Professional Development and Continuing Education, Faculty of Educational Studies, University Putra Malaysia, 43400 Selangor, Malaysia,
Ahmad Aizuddin Md Rami: Department of Professional Development and Continuing Education, Faculty of Educational Studies, University Putra Malaysia, 43400 Selangor, Malaysia,
Ismi Arif Ismail: Department of Professional Development and Continuing Education, Faculty of Educational Studies, University Putra Malaysia, 43400 Selangor, Malaysia, Institute for Social Science Studies, University Putra Malaysia, 43400 Selangor, Malaysia,

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, 2025, vol. 9, issue 2, 542-557

Abstract: Organizational resilience and readiness to change are crucial for survival in today’s turbulent business environment. Known as the “world’s factory,†China has the highest GDP in Asia and is the second largest economy globally. However, limited theoretical understanding exists regarding the mechanisms and strategies addressing resistance to change (RTC) in China. This conceptual paper aims to explore the antecedents of RTC among employees in the public sector. A review of the literature identifies organizational factors such as leader-member exchange, organizational justice, and organizational climate as influencing RTC, mediated by trust in management. The paper proposes a theoretical framework integrating Fairness Heuristic Theory and the Theory of Interpersonal Behavior to examine these factors. It suggests the need for further empirical research on RTC in China’s public sector, derived from this framework, to gain deeper insights into resistance to change across various contexts.

Date: 2025
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