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Mendel in the C-Suite: Design and the Evolution of Strategies

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  • Daniel A. Levinthal

    (Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104)

Abstract

A “Mendelian” executive is proposed as an image of strategy making that lies intermediate between the godlike powers of intentional design of rational choice approaches and a Darwinian process of random variation and market-based differential selection. The Mendelian executive is capable of intentional design efforts in order to explore possible adjacent strategic spaces. Furthermore, the argument developed here highlights the role of intentionality with respect to the selection and culling of strategic initiatives. The firm is viewed as operating an “artificial selection” environment in contrast to selection as the direct consequence of the outcome of competitive processes. Examining the nature of the processes generating these experimental variants and the bases of internal selection, and how these selection criteria may themselves change, is argued to be central to the formation of strategy in dynamic competitive environments.

Suggested Citation

  • Daniel A. Levinthal, 2017. "Mendel in the C-Suite: Design and the Evolution of Strategies," Strategy Science, INFORMS, vol. 2(4), pages 282-287, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:orstsc:v:2:y:2017:i:4:p:282-287
    DOI: 10.1287/stsc.2017.0047
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Shubha Patvardhan & J. Ramachandran, 2020. "Shaping the Future: Strategy Making as Artificial Evolution," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 31(3), pages 671-697, May.
    3. Giovanni Gavetti & Joe Porac, 2018. "On the Origin of Great Strategies," Strategy Science, INFORMS, vol. 3(1), pages 352-365, March.
    4. Teppo Felin & Stuart Kauffman, 2023. "Disruptive evolution: harnessing functional excess, experimentation, and science as tool," Industrial and Corporate Change, Oxford University Press and the Associazione ICC, vol. 32(6), pages 1372-1392.
    5. Todd A. Hall & Sharique Hasan, 2022. "Organizational decision-making and the returns to experimentation," Journal of Organization Design, Springer;Organizational Design Community, vol. 11(4), pages 129-144, December.
    6. Elizabeth G. Pontikes & Violina P. Rindova, 2020. "Shaping Markets Through Temporal, Constructive, and Interactive Agency," Strategy Science, INFORMS, vol. 5(3), pages 149-159, September.
    7. ZHU Chen & MOTOHASHI Kazuyuki, 2024. "The Fundraising of AI Startups: Evidence from web data," Discussion papers 24021, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI).

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