Organizational Change Fatigue: Building Adaptive Capacity in an Era of Permanent Disruption, by Jonathan H. Westover PhD

Abstract: Organizational change fatigue has evolved from a temporary stress response into a chronic condition affecting workforce performance, innovation capacity, and strategic execution. Drawing on evidence from organizational psychology, change management research, and neuroscience, this article examines how continuous transformation initiatives—accelerated by technological disruption, market volatility, and post-pandemic reorganization—deplete individual and collective resources while paradoxically demanding greater adaptability. The analysis reveals that traditional change management approaches, designed for episodic transformation, prove inadequate in conditions of permanent turbulence. Evidence-based interventions emphasize building change fitness through everyday developmental practices, establishing organizational rhythm and predictability, cultivating psychological safety, and developing leaders' negative capability. Organizations that shift from managing discrete changes to building adaptive capacity demonstrate improved employee wellbeing, sustained performance during transition periods, and competitive advantage in volatile markets. The article concludes with frameworks for long-term organizational resilience that treat adaptability as a renewable resource rather than a depletable asset.

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