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Studying Changes in Organizational Design and Effectiveness: Retrospective Event Histories and Periodic Assessments

Author

Listed:
  • William H. Glick

    (Graduate School of Business, University of Texas, Austin, Texas 78712)

  • George P. Huber

    (Graduate School of Business, University of Texas, Austin, Texas 78712)

  • C. Chet Miller

    (Hankamer School of Business, Baylor University, Waco, Texas 76798)

  • D. Harold Doty

    (Department of Management, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701)

  • Kathleen M. Sutcliffe

    (Graduate School of Business, University of Texas, Austin, Texas 78712)

Abstract

This paper describes assumptions, rationale, and track-offs involved in designing the research methodology used in a longitudinal study of the relationships among changes in organizational contexts, designs, and effectiveness. The basic research question concerns when how, and why do different types of organizational change occur. Given this research question and a desire to develop and test generalizable theory about changes in organizational design and effectiveness, we conducted a longitudinal study of over 100 organizations. Data concerning the changes were obtained through four interviews spaced six months apart with the top manager in each organization. Each interview provided a short-term retrospective event history over the preceding 6-month interval in aggregate, the four interviews provided a 24-month event history for each organization. Additionally, periodic assessments of the state of the organization's context, design, and effectiveness were collected with two questionnaires spaced one year apart. Finally, in each organization, the top manager's personal characteristics were assessed after all other data were obtained. This paper examines the alternatives, advantages, and disadvantages of the research design decisions. With some hindsight, we also offer some suggestions for future researchers with similar goals of developing and testing generalizable explanations of change processes in organizations.

Suggested Citation

  • William H. Glick & George P. Huber & C. Chet Miller & D. Harold Doty & Kathleen M. Sutcliffe, 1990. "Studying Changes in Organizational Design and Effectiveness: Retrospective Event Histories and Periodic Assessments," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 1(3), pages 293-312, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:ororsc:v:1:y:1990:i:3:p:293-312
    DOI: 10.1287/orsc.1.3.293
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    File URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1287/orsc.1.3.293
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    Cited by:

    1. Azar, Goudarz & Ciabuschi, Francesco, 2017. "Organizational innovation, technological innovation, and export performance: The effects of innovation radicalness and extensiveness," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 26(2), pages 324-336.
    2. Åkesson, Maria & Sørensen, Carsten & Ihlström Eriksson, Carina, 2018. "Ambidexterity under digitalization: a tale of two decades of new media at a Swedish newspaper," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 88838, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    3. Goudarz Azar & Rian Drogendijk, 2014. "Psychic Distance, Innovation, and Firm Performance," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 54(5), pages 581-613, October.
    4. Marcus Alfred A. & Cohen Susan K., 2015. "Public policies in a regulated entrepreneurial setting," Business and Politics, De Gruyter, vol. 17(2), pages 221-251, August.
    5. Manolopoulos, Dimitris & Chatzopoulou, Erifili & Kottaridi, Constantina, 2018. "Resources, home institutional context and SMEs’ exporting: Direct relationships and contingency effects," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 27(5), pages 993-1006.
    6. Laura B. Cardinal, 2001. "Technological Innovation in the Pharmaceutical Industry: The Use of Organizational Control in Managing Research and Development," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 12(1), pages 19-36, February.
    7. Christian Arnold & Daniel Kiel & Kai-Ingo Voigt, 2016. "How The Industrial Internet Of Things Changes Business Models In Different Manufacturing Industries," International Journal of Innovation Management (ijim), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 20(08), pages 1-25, December.
    8. Trish Reay & Samia Chreim & Karen Golden-Biddle & Elizabeth Goodrick & B. E. (Bernie) Williams & Ann Casebeer & Amy Pablo & C. R. (Bob) Hinings, 2013. "Transforming New Ideas into Practice: An Activity Based Perspective on the Institutionalization of Practices," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 50(6), pages 963-990, September.
    9. Shérazade Gatfaoui, 2005. "Quelles Conceptions 1 De La Confiance Au Cours De La Relation Bancaire (Client/Banque) ? : Une Approche Par Les Etudes De Cas Retrospectives," Post-Print hal-01539947, HAL.
    10. Koryak, Oksana & Lockett, Andy & Hayton, James & Nicolaou, Nicos & Mole, Kevin, 2018. "Disentangling the antecedents of ambidexterity: Exploration and exploitation," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 47(2), pages 413-427.
    11. Joseph Lampel & Ajay Bhalla & Kavil Ramachandran, 2017. "Family values and inter-institutional governance of strategic decision making in Indian family firms," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 34(4), pages 901-930, December.
    12. Alexander Frey & Manuel Trenz & Daniel Veit, 2019. "A service-dominant logic perspective on the roles of technology in service innovation: uncovering four archetypes in the sharing economy," Journal of Business Economics, Springer, vol. 89(8), pages 1149-1189, December.
    13. Shérazade Gatfaoui, 2003. "Les Mecanismes De La Confiance Dans Le Discours Des Clients : Le Cas D'Une Banque Mutualiste," Post-Print hal-01539868, HAL.
    14. Clinton Eric A. & Sciascia Salvatore & Yadav Rishi & Roche Frank, 2013. "Resource Acquisition in Family Firms: The Role of Family-Influenced Human and Social Capital," Entrepreneurship Research Journal, De Gruyter, vol. 3(1), pages 44-61, January.
    15. Gina Colarelli O'Connor & Mark P. Rice & Lois Peters & Robert W. Veryzer, 2003. "Managing Interdisciplinary, Longitudinal Research Teams: Extending Grounded Theory-Building Methodologies," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 14(4), pages 353-373, August.
    16. Laura B. Cardinal & Sim B. Sitkin & Chris P. Long, 2004. "Balancing and Rebalancing in the Creation and Evolution of Organizational Control," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 15(4), pages 411-431, August.
    17. Yan Ling & Zeki Simsek & Michael Lubatkin & John F. Velga, 2008. "Transformational Leadership's Role in Promoting Corporate Entrepreneurship : Examining the CEO - TMT Interface," Post-Print hal-02276697, HAL.
    18. Kimberly A. Eddleston & Franz W. Kellermanns & Steven W. Floyd & Victoria L. Crittenden & William F. Crittenden, 2013. "Planning for Growth: Life Stage Differences in Family Firms," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 37(5), pages 1177-1202, September.
    19. Laura B. Cardinal & Scott F. Turner & Michael J. Fern & Richard M. Burton, 2011. "Organizing for Product Development Across Technological Environments: Performance Trade-offs and Priorities," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 22(4), pages 1000-1025, August.
    20. Franz W. Kellermanns & Kimberly A. Eddleston, 2006. "Corporate Entrepreneurship in Family Firms: A Family Perspective," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 30(6), pages 809-830, November.
    21. Marc Gruber & Ian C. MacMillan & James D. Thompson, 2013. "Escaping the Prior Knowledge Corridor: What Shapes the Number and Variety of Market Opportunities Identified Before Market Entry of Technology Start-ups?," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 24(1), pages 280-300, February.
    22. Anna Cabigiosu & Diego Campagnolo, 2016. "The economic performance of innovations in a collaborative setting: the case of KIBS firms," Working Papers 22, Department of Management, Università Ca' Foscari Venezia.
    23. Sanjay Sharma & Oliver Nguan, 1999. "The biotechnology industry and strategies of biodiversity conservation: The influence of managerial interpretations and risk propensity," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 8(1), pages 46-61, January.
    24. Barbara Brenner & Björn Ambos, 2013. "A Question of Legitimacy? A Dynamic Perspective on Multinational Firm Control," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 24(3), pages 773-795, June.

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