Title: Coexistence of stability and dynamics: an exploratory study of duality property of organisational routine

Authors: Qian Xiao

Addresses: Department of Management and Marketing, Culverhouse College of Commerce and Business Administration, University of Alabama, P.O. Box 870225, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, USA

Abstract: Traditional views about organisational routine regard routine as a source of inertia, inflexibility, and even mindlessness. This study sets out to investigate the duality property of organisational routine by proposing that organisational routine embodies both stability and dynamics due to its structure and agency elements, and explore the reasonableness of this duality based on the theory of system dynamics. Furthermore, organisational learning model is employed to examine the change mechanisms of organisational routine. It is believed that organisational learning at different levels tends to impact different aspects of organisational routine. The study ends with implications for future research and practice.

Keywords: organisational routine; organisational learning; ostensive aspect; performative aspect; structure; agency; stability; system dynamics; change mechanisms.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMCP.2007.014996

International Journal of Management Concepts and Philosophy, 2007 Vol.2 No.3, pp.194 - 208

Published online: 30 Aug 2007 *

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