Resource dependence theory

About: Resource dependence theory is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 2732 publications have been published within this topic receiving 184871 citations.

Masters of the Universe? Resource Dependency and Interorganizational Power Relationships at NASA

Abstract: On February 1, 2003, the space shuttle Columbia broke apart as it re-entered the atmosphere. Months later, the Columbia Accident Investigation Board determined the immediate cause of the crash, but it also alluded to relationships NASA has with other organizations as being problematic, suggesting that Columbia was a painful symptom of a deeper disease. This paper uses resource dependency theory and structuration theory together to examine NASA's interorganizational network, illustrating that NASA is involved in multiple toxic relationships and that a pattern has developed through NASA miscues in the last 20 years. This case study demonstrates the advantages of using these two theories together, how such integration provides a useful perspective for understanding power and change in interorganizational relationships. The paper also discusses practical suggestions for NASA specifically, but also for others as organizations become more dependent on external stakeholders and interorganizational relationships.

Applying organizational orientations theory to employees of profit and non-profit organizations

Abstract: Organizational orientations theory posits three traits (upward mobile, ambivalent, and indifferent) of employees in organizations that are associated with communication traits, temperament, and perceptions of supervisor source credibility. All of these are hypothesized to be associated with organizational communication behavior and organizational outcomes such as employee job satisfaction and motivation. Previous research employing undergraduate student participants has provided support for this theory. Results of the present research indicate that this theory can be applied to typical full-time employees in profit and nonprofit organizations. All studied relationships were found to generate statistically significant results, accounting for substantial variance in each relationship. These results indicate this theory can be applied to employees in a wide variety of organizations. Suggestions for broadening this theory and its application are provided.

Resource dependence, managerial discretion and stakeholder performance.

Abstract: Since Freeman's (1984) work on stakeholder theory, a number of scholars have suggested that resource dependence theory provides a useful lens through which to view firm-stakeholder relationships (F...

Oil, Gas and Minerals: The Impact of Resource-Dependence and Governance on Sustainable Development

Abstract: It has often been argued that oil, gas and minerals may have a negative impact on development as measured by income per capita. This does not say much about sustainability, which is critical for developing countries whose economic growth derives primarily from the exploitation of exhaustible resources. We take adjusted net savings (ANS) per capita as an indicator of weak sustainability to examine the link between resource dependence and sustainable development, and look at specific governance and armed violence indicators. Since it is hard to disentangle the direct e ect of governance on development in empirical studies, we use the relative size of the youth bulge as instrument. Our results highlight a negative relationship between natural resource exraction and ANS but indicate that this is not inevitable. E ective checks on the power of the executive appears to be critical for sustainable outcomes. E ective legislative chambers, an independent judiciary and broad acceptance of established institutions all have a positive impact on ANS per capita. Our results further confirm that armed conflict and armed violence as measured by the homicide rate have a negative impact on ANS. We conclude that extractive industries and donor agencies should expand their focus from community-development programmes to strengthening checks-and-balance mechanisms, and suggest avenues to make extractive resources a stake for peace rather than for violent rent seeking.