Prigogine's Theory of the Dynamics of Far-from-Equilibrium Systems Informs the Role of Strategy-Making in Organizational Evolution

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert A. Burgelman
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Evolution ◽  
Far From Equilibrium ◽  
Strategy Making

Investigating the role of middle managers in strategy-making process: An Australian mixed method study

2014 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 187-205 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tim O'Shannassy
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Method ◽  
Middle Managers ◽  
Information Source ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Mixed Method Study ◽  
Henry Mintzberg ◽  
Organization Strategy ◽  
Strategy Making ◽  
Mix Methods

AbstractSeveral influential writers including Henry Mintzberg and Gary Hamel have highlighted the need for organizations to value the contribution to strategy work of middle managers in an uncertain world. In this study quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews are used to mix methods and investigate the role of middle managers in strategy-making process in Australia. The results indicate that middle managers are the ‘doers’ of strategy, with important ‘analyst’, ‘coordinator’, ‘information source’ and ‘communicator’ roles. Middle managers reported some frustration in interviews that at times they feel their input to strategic conversations is not translated effectively into organization strategy.

scholarly journals How and why kinetics, thermodynamics, and chemistry induce the logic of biological evolution

2017 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
pp. 665-674 ◽  
Author(s):  
Addy Pross ◽  
Robert Pascal
Keyword(s):  
Present Report ◽  
Biological Evolution ◽  
Evolutionary Process ◽  
Second Law ◽  
Equilibrium Conditions ◽  
Chemical Systems ◽  
Dynamic Kinetic Stability ◽  
Far From Equilibrium ◽  
Self Organisation

Thermodynamic stability, as expressed by the Second Law, generally constitutes the driving force for chemical assembly processes. Yet, somehow, within the living world most self-organisation processes appear to challenge this fundamental rule. Even though the Second Law remains an inescapable constraint, under energy-fuelled, far-from-equilibrium conditions, populations of chemical systems capable of exponential growth can manifest another kind of stability, dynamic kinetic stability (DKS). It is this stability kind based on time/persistence, rather than on free energy, that offers a basis for understanding the evolutionary process. Furthermore, a threshold distance from equilibrium, leading to irreversibility in the reproduction cycle, is needed to switch the directive for evolution from thermodynamic to DKS. The present report develops these lines of thought and argues against the validity of a thermodynamic approach in which the maximisation of the rate of energy dissipation/entropy production is considered to direct the evolutionary process. More generally, our analysis reaffirms the predominant role of kinetics in the self-organisation of life, which, in turn, allows an assessment of semi-quantitative constraints on systems and environments from which life could evolve.

scholarly journals How Can Pluralistic Organizations Proceed with Strategic Change? A Processual Account of Rhetorical Contestation, Convergence, and Partial Agreement in a Nordic City Organization

2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 839-864
Author(s):  
Virpi Sorsa ◽  
Eero Vaara
Keyword(s):  
Crucial Role ◽  
Strategic Change ◽  
Case Analysis ◽  
Practice Research ◽  
Partial Agreement ◽  
Strategy Process ◽  
Strategy Making

This study examines how pluralistic organizations confronting fundamental differences in values can proceed with strategic change. By drawing on a longitudinal case analysis of strategic change in a Nordic city organization, we show how the proponents and challengers play a “rhetorical game” in which they simultaneously promote their own value-based interests and ideas and seek ways to enable change. In particular, we identify a pattern in which the discussion moved from initial contestation through gradual convergence to increasing agreement. In addition, we elaborate on four rhetorical practices used in this rhetorical game: voicing own arguments, appropriation of others’ arguments, consensus argumentation, and collective we argumentation. By so doing, our study contributes to research on strategic change in pluralistic organizations by offering a nuanced account of the use of rhetoric when moving from contestation to convergence and partial agreement. Furthermore, by detailing specific types of rhetorical practices that play a crucial role in strategy making, our study advances research on the role of rhetoric in strategy process and practice research more generally.

scholarly journals The Role of Entrepreneurial Strategy-Making Dimensions towards Internet Business Performance in Malaysia

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (2.29) ◽  
pp. 524
Author(s):  
Sabrinah Adam ◽  
Batiah Mahadi
Keyword(s):  
Risk Taking ◽  
Business Performance ◽  
Consumer Behaviour ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Organisational Performance ◽  
Internet Business ◽  
Entrepreneurial Strategy Making ◽  
Entrepreneurial Strategy ◽  
Strategy Making

Internet business today is facing major transformations due mainly to increased competition, changes in consumer behaviour, and technological advancements. As Internet business is an important growth engine in Malaysia nowadays, a potential of a good entrepreneurial strategy-making (ESM) can be discovered to develop Malaysian Internet business. Besides, ESM is recognised as the driver of growth and profitability. Thus, this paper aims to develop a conceptual framework related to the role of ESM dimensions, which is the role of innovativeness, proactiveness and risk-taking towards organisational performance of Internet business in Malaysia. As such, this article includes a discussion of the background and the uniqueness of the Internet business and highlighting the role of entrepreneurial strategy-making (ESM) dimensions that have a relationship towards organisational performance of Internet business. The paper concludes with implementation of effective strategy-making that can benefit the Internet entrepreneur in future. 

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