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Toward a Theory of Coordinating: Creating Coordinating Mechanisms in Practice

Author

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  • Paula A. Jarzabkowski

    (Aston Business School, Aston University, Birmingham B4 7ET, United Kingdom)

  • Jane K. Lê

    (University of Sydney Business School, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia)

  • Martha S. Feldman

    (Department of Planning, Policy and Design, School of Social Ecology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California 92697)

Abstract

This paper uses a practice perspective to study coordinating as dynamic activities that are continuously created and modified in order to enact organizational relationships and activities. It is based on the case of Servico, an organization undergoing a major restructuring of its value chain in response to a change in government regulation. In our case, the actors iterate between the abstract concept of a coordinating mechanism referred to as end-to-end management and its performance in practice. They do this via five performative–ostensive cycles: (1) enacting disruption, (2) orienting to absence, (3) creating elements, (4) forming new patterns, and (5) stabilizing new patterns. These cycles and the relationships between them constitute a process model of coordinating. This model highlights the importance of absence in the coordinating process and demonstrates how experiencing absence shapes subsequent coordinating activity.

Suggested Citation

  • Paula A. Jarzabkowski & Jane K. Lê & Martha S. Feldman, 2012. "Toward a Theory of Coordinating: Creating Coordinating Mechanisms in Practice," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 23(4), pages 907-927, August.
  • Handle: RePEc:inm:ororsc:v:23:y:2012:i:4:p:907-927
    DOI: 10.1287/orsc.1110.0693
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Davies, Andrew & Frederiksen, Lars & Cacciatori, Eugenia & Hartmann, Andreas, 2018. "The long and winding road: Routine creation and replication in multi-site organizations," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 47(8), pages 1403-1417.
    3. Goh, Shao Hung & Eldridge, Stephen, 2019. "Sales and Operations Planning: The effect of coordination mechanisms on supply chain performance," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 214(C), pages 80-94.
    4. Lomi, Alessandro & Conaldi, Guido & Tonellato, Marco & Pallotti, Francesca, 2014. "Participation motifs and the emergence of organization in open productions," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 29(C), pages 40-57.
    5. Kim, Stephen K. & Tiwana, Amrit, 2022. "Franchising contracts as routines: Untangling the adaptive value of incomplete contracts," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 152(C), pages 177-190.
    6. Endrissat, Nada & Islam, Gazi & Noppeney, Claus, 2016. "Visual organizing: Balancing coordination and creative freedom via mood boards," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 69(7), pages 2353-2362.
    7. Godé, Cécile & Lebraty, Jean-Fabrice, 2015. "Experience feedback as an enabler of coordination: An aerobatic military team case," Scandinavian Journal of Management, Elsevier, vol. 31(3), pages 424-436.

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