The Interdependent Relation between Change and Trust

As mentioned in the introduction of this work and explained in more detail in chapter 2, changing or more specifically adapting to rapidly shifting competitive environments is required for long-term organizational survival and success (Brown & Eisenhardt, 1997, p. 1; Mishra, 1996, p. 282; D. E. Morgan & Zeffane, 2003, p. 56). The need for change thus becomes a condition of contemporary organizations (Sorensen & Hasle, 2009, p. 10). From a management point of view this results in the strategic challenge of how to embrace change and how to adapt to perpetually altering conditions without running into employee resistance, given the amount of change employees have to cope with. As shown in the second part of chapter 2, organizations are struggling with this challenge in most instances.