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Serendipity: why some organizations are luckier than others

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  • Miguel Pina e Cunha

Abstract

Serendipity refers to the accidental discovery of something valuable. It is sometimes presented as an element of organizational learning but has been the object of scarce research. In this paper, I discuss the notion of serendipity in the organizational context, and elaborate a model of organizational serendipity. Four building blocks are considered: the conditions that facilitate serendipitous discovery, the search for a solution for a given problem, a process of bisociation leading to the combination of previously unrelated skills or information, and the discovery of an unexpected solution to a different problem. I also discuss what organizations can do to improve the chances of serendipity.

Suggested Citation

  • Miguel Pina e Cunha, 2005. "Serendipity: why some organizations are luckier than others," Nova SBE Working Paper Series wp472, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Nova School of Business and Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:unl:unlfep:wp472
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Fultz, Andrew E.F. & Hmieleski, Keith M., 2021. "The art of discovering and exploiting unexpected opportunities: The roles of organizational improvisation and serendipity in new venture performance," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 36(4).
    2. , Aisdl, 2020. "Becoming Attuned," OSF Preprints j7f8y, Center for Open Science.
    3. , Aisdl, 2020. "The Serendipity Mindset," OSF Preprints w52y9, Center for Open Science.

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    Keywords

    Serendipity; search; bisociation; chance; accidental discoveries; unintentional learning;
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