Abstract:

Resistance to change is a central organisational phenomenon affecting the implementation and sustainability of institutional reform within public sector organisations. In correctional institutions transitioning from punitive to rehabilitation-oriented models, resistance to change often emerges as both a barrier to reform and a reflection of institutional adaptation processes. This paper examines the effects of addressing resistance to change on the reformative change management process within the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS). The findings reveal that resistance to change demonstrated a statistically significant positive relationship with reformative change (β = 0.298, p = 0.013), contrary to conventional expectations. The study further demonstrates that resistance within ZPCS is primarily driven by uncertainty, fear, inadequate communication, institutional tension, and concerns regarding implementation rather than deliberate opposition to reform. The paper concludes that sustainable reformative change within correctional institutions requires participatory communication systems, inclusive leadership, continuous capacity-building, and adaptive organisational learning mechanisms capable of transforming resistance into constructive institutional dialogue.