Public Sector Transformation in Emerging Economies: Factors Affecting Change Adoption in Pakistan

Nawaz, Muhammad Kamran, Eltweri, Ahmed ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5253-5678, Abbas, Khalid, Al-Karaki, Wa’el, Edghiem, Farag ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9755-7435, Foster, Scott ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8659-963X and Adali, Munir (2025) Public Sector Transformation in Emerging Economies: Factors Affecting Change Adoption in Pakistan. Administrative Sciences, 15 (4). 126. ISSN 2076-3387

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Abstract

Organizational change remains a significant challenge in developing countries, often hindered by entrenched bureaucratic cultures and resistance to reform. This study investigates the key determinants of change acceptance among public sector employees in Pakistan, focusing on the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) region. Using a survey of 320 public sector workers, this research examines employee attitudes toward organizational change through a multi-conceptual framework that incorporates technical, organizational, and environmental factors. Ten influencing factors were analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) in AMOS. The findings reveal a strong positive relationship between nine factors—change management, IT infrastructure, reward systems, technical competency, top management support, legal frameworks, organizational culture, and HRM practices—and employees’ willingness to accept change. This study presents a robust explanatory model with high predictive power for change acceptance. It provides valuable insights into reform dynamics in developing nations and offers practical strategies to guide successful public sector change management initiatives.