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Organizational Discontinuity: Integrating Evolutionary and Revolutionary Change Theories

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  • Juergen Deeg

    (University of Hagen, Germany, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Chair of Business Administration, Leadership and Organization, Profilstr. 8, 58084 Hagen, Germany)

Abstract

Facing an age of tremendous change and transformation, the ability to cope with such radically, i.e. discontinuous changing contexts is not only a major challenge in present organizational practices, but also a “true test” for organization science. Thus, the paper pursues a critical study of the organizational change discourse and provides an integrated view of organizational discontinuity by linking evolutionary and revolutionary theories of in a model of “constructive destruction”. Furthermore a “re-evolutionary” perspective is presented, conceptualizing the delicate interaction between evolutionary (structural) and revolutionary (political) processes. Finally some implications for theory and research on organizational change are also provided.

Suggested Citation

  • Juergen Deeg, 2009. "Organizational Discontinuity: Integrating Evolutionary and Revolutionary Change Theories," management revue - Socio-Economic Studies, Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG, vol. 20(2), pages 190-208.
    • Handle: RePEc:nms:mamere:1861-9908_mrev_2009_2_deeg
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    File URL: https://www.nomos-elibrary.de/10.5771/0935-9915-2009-2-190
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    8. William McKinley, 1993. "Organizational Decline and Adaptation: Theoretical Controversies," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 4(1), pages 1-9, February.
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    Cited by:

    1. Syaza Shukri, 2019. "Changing Strategy by Turkey’s AKP: The Learning Curve Theory," Millennial Asia, , vol. 10(2), pages 148-166, August.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    evolutionary change; discontinuity; organization theory; revolutionary change;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • L20 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - General
    • L21 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Business Objectives of the Firm
    • L26 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Entrepreneurship
    • M10 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - General
    • M12 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - Personnel Management; Executives; Executive Compensation

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