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Explanations of success and failure in management learning : What can we learn from Nokia's rise and fall

Author

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  • Tomi Laamanen

    (EM - EMLyon Business School)

  • Juha-Antti Lamberg
  • Eero Vaara

Abstract

In this paper, we study the changing explanations of success and failure over the course of a firm's history. We build on a discursive approach that highlights the role of narrative attributions in making sense of corporate performance. Specifically, we analyze how the Nokia Corporation was framed first as a success and later as a failure and how these dimensions of performance were explained in various actors' narrative accounts. In both the success and failure accounts, our analysis revealed a striking black-and-white picture that resulted in the institutionalization of Nokia's metanarratives of success and failure. Our findings also reveal a number of discursive attributional tendencies; and thus warn of the cognitive and politically motivated biases that are likely to characterize management literature.

Suggested Citation

  • Tomi Laamanen & Juha-Antti Lamberg & Eero Vaara, 2016. "Explanations of success and failure in management learning : What can we learn from Nokia's rise and fall," Post-Print hal-02276713, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-02276713
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://hal.science/hal-02276713
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ali-Yrkkö, Jyrki & Hermans, Raine, 2002. "Nokia in the Finnish Innovation System," Discussion Papers 811, The Research Institute of the Finnish Economy.
    2. Ali-Yrkkö, Jyrki & Kalm, Matias & Pajarinen, Mika & Rouvinen, Petri & Seppälä, Timo & Tahvanainen, Antti-Jussi, 2013. "Microsoft Acquires Nokia: Implications for the Two Companies and Finland," ETLA Brief 16, The Research Institute of the Finnish Economy.
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    Cited by:

    1. Constantin Bratianu & Shahrazad Hadad & Ruxandra Bejinaru, 2020. "Paradigm Shift in Business Education: A Competence-Based Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-17, February.
    2. Juha-Antti Lamberg, 2019. "Ringtone: Exploring the rise and fall of Nokia in mobile phones," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 50(2), pages 292-294, March.
    3. Hui, Kent N. & Hult, G. Tomas M. & Ketchen, David J., 2020. "Causal attribution for peer performance and international joint venture divestment," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 26(2).
    4. Syed Tariq Anwar, 2017. "Alibaba: Entrepreneurial growth and global expansion in B2B/B2C markets," Journal of International Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 15(4), pages 366-389, December.
    5. Vecchiato, Riccardo, 2020. "Analogical reasoning, cognition, and the response to technological change: Lessons from mobile communication," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 49(5).
    6. Constantin Bratianu & Dan Florin Stanescu & Rares Mocanu, 2021. "Exploring the Knowledge Management Impact on Business Education," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-16, February.

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