Which item is NOT listed as a reason agencies encounter resistance?

• A. Inertia
• B. Balance of power
• C. Group norms
• D. Budget cuts

Answer: (D)

Understanding why agencies resist change focuses on internal dynamics rather than external pressures. Inertia is the tendency to stick with familiar routines and avoid disruption, making people and systems slow to adopt new methods. The balance of power means stakeholders who hold influence can push back if changes threaten their authority or control. Group norms are shared expectations within the organization that dictate what behavior is acceptable, so deviating from those norms can meet resistance.

Budget cuts, while they affect how changes are funded and implemented, are not typically framed as a reason agencies resist change. They act more as external constraints that limit options rather than a source of internal opposition. So budget cuts aren’t listed as a resistance factor in the same way inertia, balance of power, and group norms are.