Mediating Role of Trade unions in between Industrial Relations and Successful Change: Validation of the Model through Structural Equation Modeling

Abstract

Although several studies have suggested that constructive role of trade unions are crucial for successful change management, but the conceptual explanation and the factors that influence this relationship remains largely unexplored. To fill this gap, this study examines the mediating role of unions in the relationship between industrial relations(IR) and successful change (SC), using organizational-level data from a single site case study based on a survey of 516 employees from Rourkela Steel Plant (a unit of SAIL),Odisha. The validation of the model in this study explicates that role of trade unions during change mediates partially between IR and SC. One implication is that with constructive involvement of trade unions, the employees assist rather than resist change which facilitates successful change management. Also, IR has substantial impact on the success of the change initiatives warranting special attention.