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Dear colleagues:

I have followed quite closely the literature arguing that well-adapted organizations result largely from a selection process at the population level.  But I have not kept track of the theoretical and empirical literature arguing that most adaptations result from prescient and intended managerial actions. I  am familiar with the John Child 1972 and the top management team literature (Hambrick et al.)  the 1980s and early 1990s.  

Can you point me to important pieces  on the adaptation perspective that have come out since that time, especially those that have explicitly argued against the environmental selection perspective?

Many thanks in advance,

Peter



References:


Child, J. (1972). "Organization Structure, Environment,  and Performance—The Role of Strategic Choice." Sociology 6(1): 1-22.

Hambrick, D. C. and P. A. Mason (1984). "Upper Echelons: The Organization as a Reflection of its Top Managers." Academy of Management Review 9: 193-200.

Hambrick, D. C., D. Nadler, et al. (1998). Navigating change: how CEOs, top teams, and boards steer transformation. Boston, Mass., Harvard Business School Press.


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Johann Peter Murmann

Associate Professor of Strategic Management
Academic Director of the Executive Year at the AGSM
Head, Strategy and Entrepreneurship


Australian School of Business, Level 5
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