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The Natural Logic of Management Policy Making: Its Implications for the Survival of an Organization

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  • Roger I. Hall

    (Faculty of Administrative Studies, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3T 2N2)

Abstract

A process-theoretic approach, seldom used but not without promise for organizational behavior research, is employed to postulate a process model of the natural logic evident in organizational policy making. The model is used to explain how the policies of a sample firm (for which 20 years of data are available) became adopted and how, together with critical events, this caused the firm to evolve in particular directions rather than others. Implications of the study are put forward in terms of identifying pathologies of the policy making process. Some prescriptions are put forward for the proper control of organizations by supervisory bodies, such as boards of directors. It is suggested that Management Science, in the form of systematic procedures for adaptive organizational design and updatable cause maps, may have an important future role to play in senior management affairs.

Suggested Citation

  • Roger I. Hall, 1984. "The Natural Logic of Management Policy Making: Its Implications for the Survival of an Organization," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 30(8), pages 905-927, August.
  • Handle: RePEc:inm:ormnsc:v:30:y:1984:i:8:p:905-927
    DOI: 10.1287/mnsc.30.8.905
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Beverly B. Tyler & Devi R. Gnyawali, 2009. "Managerial Collective Cognitions: An Examination of Similarities and Differences of Cultural Orientations," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 46(1), pages 93-126, January.
    2. David P. Tegarden & Linda F. Tegarden & Steven D. Sheetz, 2009. "Cognitive Factions in a Top Management Team: Surfacing and Analyzing Cognitive Diversity using Causal Maps," Group Decision and Negotiation, Springer, vol. 18(6), pages 537-566, November.
    3. Esbjerg, Lars & Grunert, Klaus G. & Bech-Larsen, Tino & Juhl, Hans Jørn & Brunsø, Karen, 2005. "MANUFACTURER AND RETAILER BRANDS IN FOOD RETAIL ASSORTMENTS Notes from a shopping trip across Europe," MAPP Working Papers 85, University of Aarhus, Aarhus School of Business, The MAPP Centre.
    4. Miles M Yang & Feifei Yang & Tingru Cui & Ying-Chu Cheng, 2019. "Analysing the dynamics of mental models using causal loop diagrams," Australian Journal of Management, Australian School of Business, vol. 44(3), pages 495-512, August.
    5. Marleen McCardle-Keurentjes & Etiënne A. J. A. Rouwette, 2018. "Asking Questions: A Sine Qua Non of Facilitation in Decision Support?," Group Decision and Negotiation, Springer, vol. 27(5), pages 757-788, October.
    6. Bleoju, Gianita & Capatina, Alexandru & Rancati, Elisa & Lesca, Nicolas, 2016. "Exploring organizational propensity toward inbound–outbound marketing techniques adoption: The case of pure players and click and mortar companies," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 69(11), pages 5524-5528.
    7. Hanna Maria Sievinen & Tuuli Ikäheimonen & Timo Pihkala, 2020. "The advisory role of non-family board members: a case-based study of a family firm," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 24(4), pages 871-903, December.
    8. James B. Thomas & Stephanie Watts Sussman & John C. Henderson, 2001. "Understanding “Strategic Learning”: Linking Organizational Learning, Knowledge Management, and Sensemaking," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 12(3), pages 331-345, June.
    9. Waldemar Kremser & Georg Schreyögg, 2016. "The Dynamics of Interrelated Routines: Introducing the Cluster Level," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 27(3), pages 698-721, June.
    10. Sterman, John, 1987. "Modeling managerial behavior--misperceptions of feedback in a dynamic decisionmaking experiment," Working papers 1933-87., Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Sloan School of Management.
    11. Marleen H. F. McCardle‐Keurentjes & Etiënne A. J. A. Rouwette & Jac A. M. Vennix & Eric Jacobs, 2018. "Potential benefits of model use in group model building: insights from an experimental investigation," System Dynamics Review, System Dynamics Society, vol. 34(1-2), pages 354-384, January.
    12. Tahir Hameed & Peter Von Staden & Ki-Seok Kwon, 2018. "Sustainable Economic Growth and the Adaptability of a National System of Innovation: A Socio-Cognitive Explanation for South Korea’s Mired Technology Transfer and Commercialization Process," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(5), pages 1-26, May.
    13. Scharpf, Fritz W., 1990. "Games Real Actors Could Play: The Problem of Connectedness," MPIfG Discussion Paper 90/8, Max Planck Institute for the Study of Societies.

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