IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/jorgde/v7y2018i1d10.1186_s41469-017-0026-x.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Transitioning from a hierarchical product organization to an open platform organization: a Chinese case study

Author

Listed:
  • Jiao Luo

    (University of Minnesota)

  • Andrew H. Van de Ven

    (University of Minnesota)

  • Runtian Jing

    (Shanghai Jiao Tong University)

  • Yuan Jiang

    (Shanghai Jiao Tong University)

Abstract

Organizations around the world are designing new forms of organizing in order to deal with the challenges of advances in information technology and digitization that promote increases in customization and innovation in the face of global competition. This paper presents a case study examining the challenges experienced by a large multinational firm as it transforms from a hierarchical product organization to an open platform network organization. We show that (a) role confusion, (b) control imbalance, and (c) staffing mismatches are key challenges associated with organizational redesign. The main lessons drawn from this case are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Jiao Luo & Andrew H. Van de Ven & Runtian Jing & Yuan Jiang, 2018. "Transitioning from a hierarchical product organization to an open platform organization: a Chinese case study," Journal of Organization Design, Springer;Organizational Design Community, vol. 7(1), pages 1-14, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jorgde:v:7:y:2018:i:1:d:10.1186_s41469-017-0026-x
    DOI: 10.1186/s41469-017-0026-x
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1186/s41469-017-0026-x
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1186/s41469-017-0026-x?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Jing, Runtian & Van de Ven, Andrew H., 2014. "A Yin-Yang Model of Organizational Change: The Case of Chengdu Bus Group," Management and Organization Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 10(1), pages 29-54, March.
    2. Douglas, Evan J., 2013. "Reconstructing entrepreneurial intentions to identify predisposition for growth," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 28(5), pages 633-651.
    3. Runtian Jing & Andrew H. Van de Ven, 2014. "A Yin-Yang Model of Organizational Change: The Case of Chengdu Bus Group. 中国阴阳文化视角的组织变革模型: 基于CBG的案例研究," Management and Organization Review, The International Association for Chinese Management Research, vol. 10(1), pages 29-54, March.
    4. Claudia U. Ciborra, 1996. "The Platform Organization: Recombining Strategies, Structures, and Surprises," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 7(2), pages 103-118, April.
    5. Elizabeth J. Altman & Mary Tripsas, 2013. "Product to Platform Transitions: Organizational Identity Implications," Harvard Business School Working Papers 14-045, Harvard Business School, revised Sep 2014.
    6. Jesper B. Sørensen & Magali A. Fassiotto, 2011. "Organizations as Fonts of Entrepreneurship," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 22(5), pages 1322-1331, October.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Rainer Alt, 2022. "Electronic Markets on platform transformation," Electronic Markets, Springer;IIM University of St. Gallen, vol. 32(2), pages 401-409, June.
    2. A. Georges L. Romme, 2019. "Climbing up and down the hierarchy of accountability: implications for organization design," Journal of Organization Design, Springer;Organizational Design Community, vol. 8(1), pages 1-14, December.
    3. Paul C. Fenema & A. Georges L. Romme, 2020. "Latent organizing for responding to emergencies: foundations for research," Journal of Organization Design, Springer;Organizational Design Community, vol. 9(1), pages 1-16, December.
    4. Richard M. Burton, 2020. "Fit, misfit, and design: JOD studies that touch reality," Journal of Organization Design, Springer;Organizational Design Community, vol. 9(1), pages 1-7, December.
    5. Nangobi Racheal & Mshenga Patience Mlongo & Mugonola Basil, 2023. "Determinants of farmers’ organizational structural choices in Uganda," SN Business & Economics, Springer, vol. 3(8), pages 1-22, August.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Hong, Jacky F.L. & Snell, Robin Stanley, 2015. "Knowledge development through co-opetition: A case study of a Japanese foreign subsidiary and its local suppliers," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 50(4), pages 769-780.
    2. Myriam Ertz & Myung-Soo Jo & Fahri Karakas & Emine Sarigöllü, 2021. "Message Sidedness Effects in Advertising: The Role of Yin-Yang Balancing Theory," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-26, June.
    3. Bixiang Shi & Fangcheng Tang & Fenfen Wei, 2022. "The Path Constitution of Platform Evolution: An Organizational Momentum View," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-22, July.
    4. Xin Li & Li Ma, 2020. "Chinese management research needs self-confidence but not over-confidence," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 37(2), pages 481-498, June.
    5. Cubie L.L. Lau & Zinette Bergman & Manfred Max Bergman, 2019. "Environmental Protection and Corporate Responsibility: The Perspectives of Senior Managers and CxOs in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(13), pages 1-17, July.
    6. Zhang, Yan & Han, Yu-Lan, 2019. "Paradoxical leader behavior in long-term corporate development: Antecedents and consequences," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 155(C), pages 42-54.
    7. Huyghe, Annelore & Knockaert, Mirjam & Obschonka, Martin, 2016. "Unraveling the “passion orchestra” in academia," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 31(3), pages 344-364.
    8. Jana Schmutzler & Veneta Andonova & Luis Diaz-Serrano, 2019. "How Context Shapes Entrepreneurial Self-Efficacy as a Driver of Entrepreneurial Intentions: A Multilevel Approach," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 43(5), pages 880-920, September.
    9. Wojciech Kębłowski, 2023. "Degrowth is coming to town: What can it learn from critical perspectives on urban transport?," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 60(7), pages 1249-1265, May.
    10. Justice Malebana, 2014. "Entrepreneurial intentions of South African rural university students: A test of the theory of planned behaviour," Journal of Economics and Behavioral Studies, AMH International, vol. 6(2), pages 130-143.
    11. Davide Consoli & Pier Paolo Patrucco, 2011. "Complexity and the Coordination of Technological Knowledge: The Case of Innovation Platforms," Chapters, in: Handbook on the Economic Complexity of Technological Change, chapter 8 Edward Elgar Publishing.
    12. Marco Caliendo & Alexander S. Kritikos & Claudia Stier, 2023. "The influence of start-up motivation on entrepreneurial performance," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 61(3), pages 869-889, October.
    13. Fredriksen, Lars & Wennberg, Karl & Balachandran, Chanchal, 2015. "Mobility and Entrepreneurship: Evaluating the scope of knowledge-based theories of entrepreneurship," Ratio Working Papers 266, The Ratio Institute.
    14. Francesco Castellaneta & Raffaele Conti & Aleksandra Kacperczyk, 2020. "The (Un) intended consequences of institutions lowering barriers to entrepreneurship: The impact on female workers," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 41(7), pages 1274-1304, July.
    15. Elert, Niklas & Stam, Erik & Stenkula, Mikael, 2019. "Intrapreneurship and Trust," Working Paper Series 1280, Research Institute of Industrial Economics.
    16. Erik Lundmark & Anna Krzeminska & Dean A. Shepherd, 2019. "Images of Entrepreneurship: Exploring Root Metaphors and Expanding Upon Them," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 43(1), pages 138-170, January.
    17. Witell, Lars & Gebauer, Heiko & Jaakkola, Elina & Hammedi, Wafa & Patricio, Lia & Perks, Helen, 2017. "A bricolage perspective on service innovation," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 290-298.
    18. Dan K. Hsu & Johan Wiklund & Richard D. Cotton, 2017. "Success, Failure, and Entrepreneurial Reentry: An Experimental Assessment of the Veracity of Self–Efficacy and Prospect Theory," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 41(1), pages 19-47, January.
    19. Clayton M. Christensen & Rory McDonald & Elizabeth J. Altman & Jonathan E. Palmer, 2018. "Disruptive Innovation: An Intellectual History and Directions for Future Research," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 55(7), pages 1043-1078, November.
    20. Strese, Steffen & Gebhard, Philipp & Feierabend, David & Brettel, Malte, 2018. "Entrepreneurs' perceived exit performance: Conceptualization and scale development," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 33(3), pages 351-370.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:jorgde:v:7:y:2018:i:1:d:10.1186_s41469-017-0026-x. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.