In a change initiative where a leader worries team members will resist adopting a new method and revert to old ways, which concept best describes this concern?

• A. Group Behavior
• B. Process Drift
• C. Change Fatigue
• D. Policy Backlash

Answer: (A)

Group behavior under changing conditions is at the heart of this concern. When a new method is introduced, how the team talks about it, what they observe in peers, and the norms within the group shape whether individuals embrace the change or cling to familiar practices. People often look to others for cues about risk and legitimacy; if the group as a whole hesitates or sticks with the old way, individuals may follow, believing the change is unnecessary or risky. That social dynamic can cause resistance and even a reversion to established habits, making adoption a collective, not just personal, challenge.

Process drift focuses on gradual deviations from a defined process, driven by slips in execution rather than social pressure. Change fatigue is about weariness from too many changes, which can reduce engagement but doesn’t specifically describe the pull of group norms. Policy backlash centers on opposition to a specific rule, rather than the everyday dynamics of how a team behaves during a change initiative.