Which of the following best describes the purpose of the four Balogun and Hope-Hailey strategies?

• A. They are different management philosophies
• B. They are change response options used to categorize responses to change
• C. They are methods to measure change effectiveness
• D. They are criteria for project funding

Answer: (B)

The main idea being tested is that Balogun and Hope-Hailey provide a way to classify how people and units respond to organizational change, and this classification helps guide how the change should be implemented. These four strategies function as options for categorizing reactions to change so leaders can tailor their approach—deciding where to push harder, where to involve others, and where to provide support—based on the expected response. They’re not about philosophies, measurement tools, or funding criteria, but about understanding and labeling typical responses to shape effective change management.

In practice, using this framework helps an organization anticipate whether a change will be met with quick compliance, cautious hesitation, active resistance, or a more collaborative uptake, and then align communication, participation, and governance accordingly. This focus on response patterns differentiates them from concepts that would describe management beliefs, metrics of change success, or budget decisions.