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Journal ArticleDOI

Explaining Development and Change in Organizations

01 Jul 1995-Academy of Management Review (Academy of Management)-Vol. 20, Iss: 3, pp 510-540
TL;DR: In this article, the authors introduce four basic theories that may serve as building blocks for explaining processes of change in organizations: life cycle, teleology, dialectics, and evolution, which represent different sequences of change events that are driven by different conceptual motors and operate at different organizational levels.
Abstract: This article introduces four basic theories that may serve as building blocks for explaining processes of change in organizations: life cycle, teleology, dialectics, and evolution. These four theories represent different sequences of change events that are driven by different conceptual motors and operate at different organizational levels. This article identifies the circumstances when each theory applies and proposes how interplay among the theories produces a wide variety of more complex theories of change and development in organizational life.

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Citations
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, a contingency framework for investigating the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and firm performance is proposed. But the authors focus on the business domain and do not consider the economic domain.
Abstract: The primary purpose of this article is to clarify the nature of the entrepreneurial orientation (EO) construct and to propose a contingency framework for investigating the relationship between EO and firm performance. We first explore and refine the dimensions of EO and discuss the usefulness of viewing a firm's EO as a multidimensional construct. Then, drawing on examples from the EO-related contingencies literature, we suggest alternative models (moderating effects, mediating effects, independent effects, interaction effects) for testing the EO-performance relationship.

8,623 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors describe and compare a number of alternative generic strategies for the analysis of process data, looking at the consequences of these strategies for emerging theories, and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the strategies in terms of their capacity to generate theory that is accurate, parsimonious, general, and useful.
Abstract: In this article I describe and compare a number of alternative generic strategies for the analysis of process data, looking at the consequences of these strategies for emerging theories. I evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the strategies in terms of their capacity to generate theory that is accurate, parsimonious, general, and useful and suggest that method and theory are inextricably intertwined, that multiple strategies are often advisable, and that no analysis strategy will produce theory without an uncodifiable creative leap, however small. Finally, I argue that there is room in the organizational research literature for more openness within the academic community toward a variety of forms of coupling between theory and data.

5,218 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Conceptualizations of inertia are seen to underlie the choice to view change as episodic or continuous, whereas continuous change follows the sequence freeze-rebalance-unfreeze.
Abstract: Recent analyses of organizational change suggest a growing concern with the tempo of change, understood as the characteristic rate, rhythm, or pattern of work or activity. Episodic change is contrasted with continuous change on the basis of implied metaphors of organizing, analytic frameworks, ideal organizations, intervention theories, and roles for change agents. Episodic change follows the sequence unfreeze-transition-refreeze, whereas continuous change follows the sequence freeze-rebalance-unfreeze. Conceptualizations of inertia are seen to underlie the choice to view change as episodic or continuous.

2,705 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, a systematic review of literature published over the past 27 years, synthesize various research perspectives into a comprehensive multi-dimensional framework of organizational innovation - linking leadership, innovation as a process, and innovation as an outcome.
Abstract: This paper consolidates the state of academic research on innovation. Based on a systematic review of literature published over the past 27 years, we synthesize various research perspectives into a comprehensive multi-dimensional framework of organizational innovation - linking leadership, innovation as a process, and innovation as an outcome. We also suggest measures of determinants of organizational innovation and present implications for both research and managerial practice.

2,414 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors use resource dependence theory to investigate two questions: what types of influence strategies do stakeholders have available, and what determines which type the stakeholders choose to use?
Abstract: When seeking to influence firm decision making, what types of influence strategies do stakeholders have available, and what determines which type the stakeholders choose to use? In this article I use resource dependence theory to investigate these two questions. I propose that the resource relationship (who is dependent on whom) determines which of the four types of strategies identified in this article will be used: direct withholding, direct usage, indirect withholding, or indirect usage.

2,313 citations

References
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Book
01 Jan 1942
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present a history of the first half of the 20th century, from 1875 to 1914, of the First World War and the Second World War.
Abstract: Introduction. Part I: The Marxian Doctrine. Prologue. I. Marx the Prophet. II. Marx the Sociologist. III. Marx the Economist. IV Marx the Teacher. Part II: Can Capitalism Survive? Prologue. V. The Rate of Increase of Total Output. VI. Plausible Capitalism. VII. The Process of Creative Destruction. VIII. Monopolistics Practices. IX. Closed Season. X. The Vanishing of Investment Opportunity. XI. The Civilization of Capitalism. XII. Crumbling Walls. XIII. Growing Hostility. XIV. Decomposition. Part III: Can Socialism Work? XV. Clearing Decks. XVI. The Socialist Blueprint. XVII. Comparison of Blueprints. XVIII. The Human Element. XIX. Transition. Part IV: Socialism and Democracy. XX. The Setting of the Problem. XXI. The Classical Doctrine of Democracy. XXII. Another Theory of Democracy. XXIII. The Inference. Part V: A Historical Sketch of Socialist Parties. Prologue. XXIV. The Nonage. XXV. The Situation that Marx Faced. XXVI. From 1875 to 1914. XXVII. From the First to the Second World War. XXVIII. The Consequences of the Second World War. Preface to the First Edition, 1942. Preface to the Second Edition, 1946. Preface to the Third Edition, 1949. The March Into Socialism. Index.

16,667 citations


"Explaining Development and Change i..." refers background in this paper

  • ...Such recurrent cycles are exemplified in some models of vicious circles in organizations (Masuch, 1985), group entrainment processes (McGrath & Kelly, 1986), and creative destruction (Schumpeter, 1942)....

    [...]

Book
01 Jan 1949

13,688 citations

Book
01 Jan 1969

12,535 citations


"Explaining Development and Change i..." refers background in this paper

  • ...Darwinian evolution (e.g., Hannan & Freeman, 1977, 1989; McKelvey, 1982 ) argue that traits are inherited through intergenerational processes, whereas those who follow Lamarck (e.g., Boyd & Richerson, 1985; Burgelman, 1991; Singh & Lumsden , 1990; Weick, 1979 ) argue...

    [...]

  • ...(Weick, 1979)....

    [...]

Book
01 Jan 1966

11,374 citations

Book
01 Jan 1966
TL;DR: Scheleris et al. as mentioned in this paper proposed a sociologijos disciplinos raida, which is a discipline for sociologists to discipline themselves in the discipline of social sciences.
Abstract: Publikacijoje apžvelgiama žinojimo sociologijos disciplinos raida, pateikiamos svarbiausios jos nagrinėjamos sąvokos ir tyrimo tikslai. Teigiama, kad tikrovė yra socialiskai konstruojama ir kad žinojimo sociologija turi analizuoti sio konstravimo procesus. Ji turi aiskinti ne tik empirine žinojimo įvairove visuomenėse, bet taip pat ir procesus, dėl kurių bet kuris žinojimas tampa socialiskai pripažinta tikrove. K. Marxo tezė, kad žmogaus sąmone apsprendžia jo socialinė būtis, tapo bazine žinojimo sociologijos teze. Terminą „žinojimo sociologija“įvedė M. Scheleris. Jis teigė, kad visuomenė lemia idėjų būtį, bet ne jų prigimtį ir pabrėžė individualaus žmogiskojo žinojimo aprioriskumą, kuris prasmės sistemą įgyja visuomenėje. K. Mannheimas teigė, kad visuomenė sąlygoja ne tik žmogiskosios idealizacijos formą, bet ir turinį. Jam svarbiausias buvo ideologijos reiskinys. Skyrė partikuliarinės, totalinės ir bendrosios ideologijos sąvokas. R. Mertonas siekė sujungti žinojimo sociologijos ir struktūrinės funkcinės teorijos pozicijas. Autoriai isplecia sios sociolgijos tyrimo objektą teigdami, kad ji turi tirti ne tik idėjų istoriją, bet viską, kas visuomenėje laikoma žinojimu.

10,453 citations