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What evolves in organizational co-evolution?

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  • Dermot Breslin

Abstract

Research in business and management has recently taken a co-evolutionary turn, driven both by the pace of environmental change, but also by the increasingly complex and interconnected nature of business environments. However few studies have drawn from the theoretical approaches used to study co-evolutionary processes in other scientific domains. In this paper recent advances in these other fields of study are examined with a view towards filling this gap, and providing a much needed theoretical underpinning to recent developments in co-evolutionary research. It is seen that the identification of the unit of evolution is a critical issue in this endeavor, with two broad approaches taken, namely the entity- and practice-based approach. In the former it is assumed that ideas, knowledge and capabilities are bound to individuals, groups and organizations with change over time being determined largely by external selection forces. In the practice-based view, the focus shifts to the process in which ideas, knowledge and capabilities are continually enacted and modified through actions. The paper further explores key theoretical and methodological issues relating to the development of both approaches, making a contribution not only to co-evolutionary research but to broader research in business and management. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media New York 2016

Suggested Citation

  • Dermot Breslin, 2016. "What evolves in organizational co-evolution?," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 20(1), pages 45-67, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jmgtgv:v:20:y:2016:i:1:p:45-67
    DOI: 10.1007/s10997-014-9302-0
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Jasper Grashuis, 2018. "An Exploratory Study of Cooperative Survival: Strategic Adaptation to External Developments," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-15, February.
    2. Charis Vlados & Dimos Chatzinikolaou, 2020. "Methodological Redirections for an Evolutionary Approach of the External Business Environment," Journal of Management and Sustainability, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 9(2), pages 1-25, March.
    3. Schlaile, Michael P. & Bogner, Kristina & Muelder, Laura, 2021. "It’s more than complicated! Using organizational memetics to capture the complexity of organizational culture," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 129(C), pages 801-812.
    4. Jon Barrutia & Jon Mikel Zabala-Iturriagagoitia, 2018. "Towards an epigenetic understanding of evolutionary economics and evolutionary economic geography," Evolutionary and Institutional Economics Review, Springer, vol. 15(2), pages 213-241, December.
    5. Abatecola, Gianpaolo & Breslin, Dermot & Kask, Johan, 2020. "Do organizations really co-evolve? Problematizing co-evolutionary change in management and organization studies," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    6. Gianpaolo Abatecola, 2021. "Prioritizing Short-Termism in Behavioural Strategy: Lessons from Enron – 20 Years On," International Journal of Business and Management, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 14(4), pages 1-60, July.
    7. Roberto Grandinetti, 2022. "A Routine-Based Theory of Routine Replication," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-23, July.
    8. repec:hal:journl:hal-04654634 is not listed on IDEAS
    9. Gianpaolo Abatecola & Matteo Cristofaro, 2019. "Ingredients of Sustainable CEO Behaviour: Theory and Practice," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-15, April.
    10. Gianpaolo Abatecola, 2021. "Reviewing Corporate Crises: A Strategic Management Perspective," International Journal of Business and Management, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 14(5), pages 1-21, July.

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