Some processes generate resistance

“The strongest waves really crash on the shore, and the undertow pulls back sand and shingle into the sea. The noise is almost deafening. Only the stones, which are strongest, resist the pull of water seawards. a seagull flies into the wind. It seems almost stationary in the air as the force of the breeze resists its onward flight."

All kinds of processes in organisations generate resistance. In physical processes, a sheet of metal, if strong, literally resists the cutting machine. The force of the machine has to be great enough to overcome this natural resistance. Process innovation can focus on how to reduce the resistance of the metal or, if the resistance is very strong, how to strengthen the cutter and how to make the cutting more efficient.
On a managerial level, making changes to work patterns can generate resistance in employees, dropping purchase prices can generate resistance in suppliers, making product design changes can generate resistance in customers. So, process innovation may focus on managing this resistance.

PROCESS RESISTANCE ACTIVITY
This is a short activity. Invite several colleagues to brainstorm all of the causes of resistance to change in your organisation. Collect as many ideas as you can.
Here are some examples:

- people feel uncomfortable by the change
- loss of power or status
- increased stressed
- people don't believe in the change
- lack of resources
- lack of motivation
- people not capable or competent
- technical limitations
- lack of senior management support
- focus only on the short term
- lack of understanding
- lack of trust

Many innovations or changes to processes may have to overcome resistance, if they are to be successfully implemented.

Resistance is futile !
Process innovation in the medical world is currently focusing on increasingly resistant ‘super bugs’, which resist antibiotics, which, only a few years ago, were effective. Fears are growing of viruses, which we simply won’t be able to treat for conditions such as influenza. The race is on to find new processes and new combinations of drugs to create super-medicines which will saves millions of lives.

Defence Materials
Developments in new metals and alloys in the defence industry have created armoured vehicles that are increasingly resistant to ever-more powerful explosives. In recent years attention has also focused on developments in suits and uniforms, which resist the effects of biological and chemical weapons.

Striking doctors and nurses
Traditionally the medical profession has resisted the move towards giving nurses and medical assistants more clinical responsibilities. Should nurses be more directly involved in minor surgery ? Should they be able to prescribe certain medicines ? Resistance has come directly in the form of industrial actions, but also indirectly through debates at conferences and in influential journals. It seems that certain processes that were the sole preserve of doctors are being transferred to other people in the health service.