Resistance to change can be positive if it leads to open discussion and debate.
5 These responses are usually preferable to apathy or silence and can indicate
that members of the organization are engaged in the process, providing
change agents an opportunity to explain the change effort. Change agents can
also use resistance to modify the change to fit the preferences of other members
of the organization. When they treat resistance only as a threat, rather than
a point of view to be discussed, they may increase dysfunctional conflict.