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Formalisation and flexibilisation in organisations – Dynamic and selective approaches in corporate innovation processes

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  • Mattes, Jannika

Abstract

A classic problem in organising corporate innovation projects is the tension between formalisation and flexibilisation. Connecting this discussion to the younger debate on ambidexterity, this paper asks how organisations balance informal and formal, flexible and inflexible ways of working in their innovation projects. It derives a way to break down formalisation and flexibilisation into the dimensions of power, communication and trust and connects them to learning. By unhinging formalisation and flexibilisation from the organisational level and looking at them at the small-scale level of specific projects and functional arenas instead, the paper sheds new light onto the various fashions in which formalisation and flexibilisation do not contradict, but complement each other. An empirical account based on 100 qualitative expert interviews illustrates this.

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  • Mattes, Jannika, 2014. "Formalisation and flexibilisation in organisations – Dynamic and selective approaches in corporate innovation processes," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 32(3), pages 475-486.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:eurman:v:32:y:2014:i:3:p:475-486
    DOI: 10.1016/j.emj.2013.09.002
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    Cited by:

    1. Verdu-Jover, Antonio J. & Alos-Simo, Lirios & Gomez-Gras, Jose-Maria, 2018. "Adaptive culture and product/service innovation outcomes," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 36(3), pages 330-340.
    2. Ardito, Lorenzo & Messeni Petruzzelli, Antonio, 2017. "Breadth of external knowledge sourcing and product innovation: The moderating role of strategic human resource practices," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 35(2), pages 261-272.
    3. José Andrade & Mário Franco & Luis Mendes, 2023. "Facilitating and Inhibiting Effects of Organisational Ambidexterity in SME: an Analysis Centred on SME Characteristics," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 14(1), pages 35-64, March.
    4. Wen-Dong Lv & Dan Tian & Yuan Wei & Rui-Xue Xi, 2018. "Innovation Resilience: A New Approach for Managing Uncertainties Concerned with Sustainable Innovation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-25, October.
    5. Adrianela Angeles & Adriana Perez-Encinas & Cristian E. Villanueva, 2022. "Characterizing Organizational Lifecycle through Strategic and Structural Flexibility: Insights from MSMEs in Mexico," Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management, Springer;Global Institute of Flexible Systems Management, vol. 23(2), pages 271-290, June.

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