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Serendipity as a Mechanism of Change and its Potential for Explaining Change Processes

Author

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  • Ursula Weisenfeld

    (Institute of Corporate Development, Leuphana University of Lueneburg, Campus, 21391 Lueneburg, Germany)

Abstract

Serendipity plays an important role in science and technology development. This article investigates serendipity as a potential mechanism of change in management areas such as technology management, strategy and organization. The mechanism will be described and conditions that support or hinder the mechanism will be discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Ursula Weisenfeld, 2009. "Serendipity as a Mechanism of Change and its Potential for Explaining Change Processes," management revue - Socio-Economic Studies, Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG, vol. 20(2), pages 138-148.
    • Handle: RePEc:nms:mamere:1861-9908_mrev_2009_2_weisenfeld
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    File URL: https://www.nomos-elibrary.de/10.5771/0935-9915-2009-2-138
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Anne S. Miner, 1990. "Structural Evolution Through Idiosyncratic Jobs: The Potential for Unplanned Learning," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 1(2), pages 195-210, May.
    2. repec:dau:papers:123456789/13443 is not listed on IDEAS
    3. Mark de Rond & Raymond‐Alain Thietart, 2007. "Choice, chance, and inevitability in strategy," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(5), pages 535-551, May.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    Cited by:

    1. Albert Martin & Ursula Weisenfeld & Sigrid Bekmeier-Feuerhahn, 2009. "Mechanisms of Change," management revue - Socio-Economic Studies, Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG, vol. 20(2), pages 117-125.
    2. Kosuke Kato & Shin Ito & Kazuhiko Itaya, 2019. "Can Accidental Discoveries be Managed? Exploring Key Factors Impacting Idea Generation in R&D Sites in Japan," International Journal of Innovation and Technology Management (IJITM), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 16(06), pages 1-16, October.
    3. Sigrid Bekmeier-Feuerhahn, 2009. "Mechanisms of Teleological Change," management revue - Socio-Economic Studies, Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG, vol. 20(2), pages 126-137.
    4. , 沈德旻, 2019. "偶然力與科學素養對創業成功影響之相關研究," OSF Preprints bym7h, Center for Open Science.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    mechanisms of change; serendipity; organizational change; strategic change; technological change;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • L20 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - General
    • L21 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Business Objectives of the Firm
    • L26 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Entrepreneurship
    • M10 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - General
    • M12 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - Personnel Management; Executives; Executive Compensation

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