Evaluation of the Effect of Assertiveness on Personal Resistance with Moderator Role of Staff Maturity in Kerman University of Medical Sciences

Background & Objectives: Reducing personal resistance against changes via assertiveness and maturity could help the organization to achieve goals. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of assertiveness on personal resistance with moderator role of staff maturity in Kerman University of Medical Sciences. This cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study was performed on 169 Headquarters employees in Kerman University of Medical Sciences in 2016. To collect data, three questionnaires including assertiveness questionnaire (22 questions), personal resistance questionnaire (21 questions), and maturity questionnaire (26 questions), were used. Data were analyzed using partial least squares (PLS) by SmartPLS 2 software. Assertiveness had a reverse effect on the personal resistance. It had also a reverse effect on the dimensions of personal resistance including inappropriate emotions, passive reactions, and lack of creative responses, but it had no effect on the employees' low motivation. The employees maturity as a moderator variable reduced the effect of assertiveness on the personal resistance. Considering the importance of decreasing personal resistance in workplace which increases the productivity of workforce, it is recommended to perform some interventions to reinforce the employees' personal skills like assertiveness.