Evolutionary research is beginning to fulfill the promise of the behavioral theory of the firm and explore the impact of administrative structure on adaptation and change in firms. This chapter compares the evolutionary approach to structure with contingency theory, the most prominent stream of organizational research focused on administrative structure. In comparing evolutionary and contingency approaches to organizations, I find that both build from the foundations of information processing and behavioral theories of the firm, and that adaptation plays an important role in both theories. More recent evolutionary work differs from contingency theory in its approach to the selection environment and the efficiency of managerial decision-making in organizations. These differences lead to radically different predictions concerning the causal relationship of structure and strategic choices: administrative structure shapes the information environment in firms, which in turn affects strategic decisions such as market entry and exit. The chapter concludes by examining the theoretical and empirical challenges faced by evolutionary studies of structure and strategic change, as well as considering the new theoretical questions that arise from this approach.

Comparing evolutionary and contingency theory approaches to organizational structure

WILLIAMS, FREDERICK CHARLES
2008

Abstract

Evolutionary research is beginning to fulfill the promise of the behavioral theory of the firm and explore the impact of administrative structure on adaptation and change in firms. This chapter compares the evolutionary approach to structure with contingency theory, the most prominent stream of organizational research focused on administrative structure. In comparing evolutionary and contingency approaches to organizations, I find that both build from the foundations of information processing and behavioral theories of the firm, and that adaptation plays an important role in both theories. More recent evolutionary work differs from contingency theory in its approach to the selection environment and the efficiency of managerial decision-making in organizations. These differences lead to radically different predictions concerning the causal relationship of structure and strategic choices: administrative structure shapes the information environment in firms, which in turn affects strategic decisions such as market entry and exit. The chapter concludes by examining the theoretical and empirical challenges faced by evolutionary studies of structure and strategic change, as well as considering the new theoretical questions that arise from this approach.
2008
0387777768
9780387777764
R. M. Burton, B. H. Eriksen, D. D. Hakonsson, T. Knudsen, C. C. Snow
Designing Organizations: 21st Century Approaches
Williams, FREDERICK CHARLES
File in questo prodotto:
Non ci sono file associati a questo prodotto.

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11565/3789896
 Attenzione

Attenzione! I dati visualizzati non sono stati sottoposti a validazione da parte dell'ateneo

Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus ND
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? ND
social impact