Dr. Dimitris Hatjidis Receives Best Researcher Award for Seminal Study on Change Readiness

Dr. Dimitris Hatjidis, Associate Professor in the Business Division at ACT, received the Best Researcher Award at ICOAEF-XIII, the 13th International Conference on Applied Economics and Finance, held on April 29–30, 2025. The award recognized his paper titled "Building Change Readiness Psychological State Through Implicit and Explicit Attitudes: A Conceptual Approach."

Despite significant academic contributions to the field of change readiness by numerous distinguished scholars, there remains a clear need to explore the sensory and emotional dimensions of how individuals form their attitudes—shaped not only by cognition but also by emotion—towards organizational change.

Dr. Hatjidis's study adopts theory synthesis research design, conducting qualitative analysis and review of 51 peer-reviewed articles published between 2000 and 2024. The research identifies and classifies key contributing factors and attitudes involved in shaping the foundational phase of change readiness.

This work offers valuable insights for change management teams, supporting more proactive planning for the initiation and transition phases of change. It also enriches the academic literature by advancing our understanding of how mental attitudes—central to employees’ behaviors in the workplace—can be recognized, shaped, and potentially redirected.