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Formalization And The Organizational Life Cycle[1]

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  • James P. Walsh
  • Robert D. Dewar

Abstract

The theoretical importance of formalization has often been obscured in empirical investigation. This article discusses two outcomes of formalization: administrative efficiency, and influence. As formalization contributes to administrative efficiency, it also bestows upon the administrator power and influence. While some theoretical attention has been paid to the efficiency theme, influence has been largely ignored. The article suggests that formalization as code, as channel, and as standard can be best understood in the context of the organizational life cycle. Formalization (as efficiency) is likely to contribute to effectiveness early in an organization's history. Later in the life cycle, however, formalization (as influence) may contribute to organizational ineffectiveness and decline.

Suggested Citation

  • James P. Walsh & Robert D. Dewar, 1987. "Formalization And The Organizational Life Cycle[1]," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 24(3), pages 215-231, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:jomstd:v:24:y:1987:i:3:p:215-231
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-6486.1987.tb00700.x
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    Cited by:

    1. Lynn E. Miller & Karen A. Simmons, 1992. "Differences in Management Practices of Founding and Nonfounding Chief Executives of Human Service Organizations," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 16(4), pages 31-40, July.
    2. Jeffrey Yi-Lin Forrest & Zaiwu Gong, 2019. "Factors and Steps for Successful Transition from a State of Making to One of Innovating," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(15), pages 1-12, August.
    3. Patrick G. Scott & Sanjay K. Pandey, 2000. "The influence of red tape on bureaucratic behavior: An experimental simulation," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 19(4), pages 615-633.
    4. Hanisch, Marvin & Goldsby, Curtis M. & Fabian, Nicolai E. & Oehmichen, Jana, 2023. "Digital governance: A conceptual framework and research agenda," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 162(C).
    5. Maryann P. Feldman & Serden Ozcan & Toke Reichstein, 2019. "Falling Not Far from the Tree: Entrepreneurs and Organizational Heritage," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 30(2), pages 337-360, March.
    6. Germà Bel & Thomas Elston, 2022. ""When the Time is Right: Testing for Dynamic Effects in Collaborative Performance"," IREA Working Papers 202212, University of Barcelona, Research Institute of Applied Economics, revised Jul 2022.

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