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The Longitudinal Analysis of Organizations: A Methodological Perspective

Author

Listed:
  • Danny Miller

    (Ecole des Hautes Etudes Commerciales and McGill University)

  • Peter H. Friesen

    (McGill University)

Abstract

The case is made for performing more longitudinal research into organizations and their adaptive processes. Previous literature on the empirical longitudinal analysts of organizations is classified into five categories on the basis of the breadth of scope of the research, the number and diversity of organizations being studied, and the degree to which mathematical and statistical procedures are used to develop conclusions. The strengths and limitations of each of the five types of longitudinal research are discussed. It is argued that there should be a more concerted attempt to undertake research that focuses on a broad array of organizational variables in many organizations and which uses quantitative methods to derive results which are replicable and whose range of generality has been carefully established. Several proposals are made toward this end. Methods are suggested for gathering valid and reliable longitudinal multivariate data from numerous organizations in an economical fashion. Also, techniques of statistical and mathematical analysis are proposed for handling the complications caused by multivariate nonlinearities in longitudinal data. Of particular interest in this regard is the use of techniques of organizational taxonomy generation and testing and the use of algebraic heuristic procedures for identifying and differentiating among common scenarios of change in organizations. These suggestions should help to combat the non-cumulative nature of longitudinal research by avoiding the very common problems of specification error, nongenerality, and non-replicability.

Suggested Citation

  • Danny Miller & Peter H. Friesen, 1982. "The Longitudinal Analysis of Organizations: A Methodological Perspective," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 28(9), pages 1013-1034, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:ormnsc:v:28:y:1982:i:9:p:1013-1034
    DOI: 10.1287/mnsc.28.9.1013
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    Cited by:

    1. Jolanta Sloniec, 2021. "A Longitudinal Analysis of IT Outsourcing in Large Polish Organizations," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(Special 2), pages 439-452.
    2. Shaker A. Zahra & Donald O. Neubaum & Morten Huse, 1997. "The Effect of the Environment on Export Performance among Telecommunications New Ventures," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 22(1), pages 25-46, October.
    3. Michel Avital, 2000. "Dealing with Time in Social Inquiry: A Tension Between Method and Lived Experience," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 11(6), pages 665-673, December.
    4. repec:dau:papers:123456789/4818 is not listed on IDEAS
    5. Alessandra Allini & Rosanna Span? & Annamaria Zampella & Fiorenza Meucci, 2020. "Integrated Performance Plans in Higher Education as means of accounting change. Insights into the Italian context," MANAGEMENT CONTROL, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2020(1), pages 87-110.
    6. Élisabeth Lefebvre & Louis A. Lefebvre & Lise Préfontaine, 1994. "Relating HRM and MOT Capabilities to R&D Intensity," CIRANO Working Papers 94s-06, CIRANO.
    7. Mehmet Ali Köseoglu & John A. Parnell & Melissa Yan Yee Yick, 2021. "Identifying influential studies and maturity level in intellectual structure of fields: evidence from strategic management," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 126(2), pages 1271-1309, February.
    8. Wolf, Joachim, 2008. "Die Internationalisierung der Unternehmenstätigkeit aus der Perspektive der Pfadabhängigkeitstheorie," Manuskripte aus den Instituten für Betriebswirtschaftslehre der Universität Kiel 638, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Institut für Betriebswirtschaftslehre.
    9. John W. Boudreau, 2004. "50th Anniversary Article: Organizational Behavior, Strategy, Performance, and Design in Management Science," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 50(11), pages 1463-1476, November.
    10. Wu, Juan & Wang, Daojuan & Morschett, Dirk, 2023. "Light Touch Goes Where? A Longitudinal Study of the Post-Acquisition Integration Paths Adopted by Chinese Multinational Enterprises," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 29(5).
    11. Hadjikhani, Amjad & Hadjikhani, Annoch Isa & Thilenius, Peter, 2014. "The internationalization process model: A proposed view of firms’ regular incremental and irregular non-incremental behaviour," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 23(1), pages 155-168.
    12. Zhang Liqun, 2022. "The Influence of Entrepreneur's Social Capital and Resource Acquisition on Enterprise's Innovation Ability -- A Case Study of Guangdong Entrepreneurs," International Journal of Science and Business, IJSAB International, vol. 14(1), pages 130-154.
    13. Ferri Kuswantoro & M. Mohd Rosli & Radiah Abdul Kader, 2012. "Innovation In Distribution Channel(S) & Cost Efficiency On Small & Medium Enterprise Scales’ Performance In Indonesia," Journal of Global Entrepreneurship, Global Research Agency, vol. 3(1), pages 42-67, July.

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