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Some have to, and some want to: Why firms adopt a post-industrial form

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  • Chris R. Meyer

    (Fordham University)

  • David G. Cohen

    (Skidmore College)

  • Sudhir Nair

    (University of Victoria)

Abstract

A number of organizational scholars have suggested that to compete in a “post-industrial” world firms must adopt specific structures and approaches to managing. In this article, we explore the why of post-industrial forms, as opposed to the what. Often work in this literature speaks as though in the future only a post-industrial form will allow firms to compete successfully. We argue instead that adoption of a post-industrial form is a contingency: some firms have to operate in this fashion, some firms may want to, and some firms never will adopt a post-industrial form. Based on Thompson’s (Organizations in action, Transaction, New Brunswick, 1967) conception of production processes, we suggest factors that, if present, require firms to be post-industrial as well as strategies that make them want to adopt this relatively new form.

Suggested Citation

  • Chris R. Meyer & David G. Cohen & Sudhir Nair, 2017. "Some have to, and some want to: Why firms adopt a post-industrial form," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 21(2), pages 533-559, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jmgtgv:v:21:y:2017:i:2:d:10.1007_s10997-016-9353-5
    DOI: 10.1007/s10997-016-9353-5
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