I think you hit the nail on the head - people come up with all kinds of excuses to thwart change.
Think a gradual changing (fill-in the blank) environment, a bit like a jet raising to 35,000 feet, rapid at first but more gradual later, is best.
The fear I think many have is based on some sort of insecurity - money loss, job loss, company loss. But, if we get people to accept change as the unchanging part of things, then people will be acclimated to it.
There has to be some compelling reason to change, however, maybe it isn't quantifiable right up front and it is a gut feeling but 'something' should be a reason for the change.
Last, one comment on the excerpt you refer to that states - Work forces are aging and are not challenged to learn new skills...
I don't think people know how the brain works - at any age you can train your brain to work like a 20 year old, and you will have all that wisdom to boot. So, when companies sometimes pigeon hole their employees, they get people who excel at their tasks, they have done over and over, yet they miss out on the enormous capability they have locked in.