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Conceptualizing and Measuring Variety in the Execution of Organizational Work Processes

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  • Brian T. Pentland

    (Eli Broad College of Business, N259 Business Complex, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824-1122)

Abstract

Variability in organizational work processes is believed to influence productivity, quality, flexibility, and a host of other aspects of organizational design and management, but this construct has never been clearly conceptualized and measured. This paper introduces the concept of sequential variety, which accounts for variability in the sequence of events or actions that make up a process. This paper also proposes and compares three measures of sequential variety in organizational processes: Average distance (based on optimal string matching), algorithmic complexity, and deviation from uniform, random Markov. These measures are compared and validated using a simulated data set that embodies the range of variation likely to be encountered in empirical studies. All three measures correlate well and provide useful indicators of sequential variety, but the measures based on optimal string matching and deviation from the uniform, random Markov seem likely to be more useful in various potential applications.

Suggested Citation

  • Brian T. Pentland, 2003. "Conceptualizing and Measuring Variety in the Execution of Organizational Work Processes," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 49(7), pages 857-870, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:ormnsc:v:49:y:2003:i:7:p:857-870
    DOI: 10.1287/mnsc.49.7.857.16382
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    Cited by:

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    7. Guo, Jingjing & Guo, Bin & Zhou, Jianghua & Wu, Xiaobo, 2020. "How does the ambidexterity of technological learning routine affect firm innovation performance within industrial clusters? The moderating effects of knowledge attributes," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    8. Markus Becker & Thorbjorn Knudsen, 2012. "Nelson and Winter Revisited," Chapters, in: Michael Dietrich & Jackie Krafft (ed.), Handbook on the Economics and Theory of the Firm, chapter 19, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    9. Jan Recker & Jan Mendling, 2016. "The State of the Art of Business Process Management Research as Published in the BPM Conference," Business & Information Systems Engineering: The International Journal of WIRTSCHAFTSINFORMATIK, Springer;Gesellschaft für Informatik e.V. (GI), vol. 58(1), pages 55-72, February.
    10. Brian T. Pentland, 2003. "Sequential Variety in Work Processes," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 14(5), pages 528-540, October.
    11. Nathalie Lazaric & Blandine Denis, 2005. "Routinisation and memorisation of tasks inside a workshop: the case of the introduction of ISO norms," Post-Print hal-00457079, HAL.
    12. Udo Staber, 2008. "Network Evolution in Cultural Industries," Industry and Innovation, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 15(5), pages 569-578.
    13. Daniel Beverungen & Oliver Müller & Martin Matzner & Jan Mendling & Jan Brocke, 2019. "Conceptualizing smart service systems," Electronic Markets, Springer;IIM University of St. Gallen, vol. 29(1), pages 7-18, March.
    14. Brian T. Pentland & Martha S. Feldman, 2007. "Narrative Networks: Patterns of Technology and Organization," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 18(5), pages 781-795, October.
    15. Patrick Afflerbach & Gregor Kastner & Felix Krause & Maximilian Röglinger, 2014. "The Business Value of Process Flexibility," Business & Information Systems Engineering: The International Journal of WIRTSCHAFTSINFORMATIK, Springer;Gesellschaft für Informatik e.V. (GI), vol. 6(4), pages 203-214, August.
    16. Jan Recker & Jan Mendling, 2016. "The State of the Art of Business Process Management Research as Published in the BPM Conference," Business & Information Systems Engineering: The International Journal of WIRTSCHAFTSINFORMATIK, Springer;Gesellschaft für Informatik e.V. (GI), vol. 58(1), pages 55-72, February.
    17. Potthoff, Sebastian & Kwasnicka, Dominika & Avery, Leah & Finch, Tracy & Gardner, Benjamin & Hankonen, Nelli & Johnston, Derek & Johnston, Marie & Kok, Gerjo & Lally, Phillippa & Maniatopoulos, Gregor, 2022. "Changing healthcare professionals' non-reflective processes to improve the quality of care," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 298(C).
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