Sub-theme 39: Bridging Time: Exploring the Dynamics of Routines and Path Dependence
Call for Papers
The sub-theme invites organizational researchers who study temporalization of routines and the relations between patterns
of persistence and patterns of change. Special focus is on exploring the temporal patterning and tensions between the logic
of change in and through routines and self-reinforcing dynamics of stabilization in and between organizations. The subtheme
aims to explore how actions bridge past, present and future and to reflect upon the temporal implications of action. It seeks
to foster dialogue and exchange of ideas related to further understanding the logics of practicing change and stabilizing
routines. The sub-theme applies the general theme of the 29th EGOS Colloquium: Bridging Continents, Cultures and Worldviews
to the relationship between stability and change as enacted through routines and practices in empirical contexts.
Bridging both stability and change provides a particularly advantageous context for exploring the logic of organizing,
change through routines and the emergence of path dependence. Studies of interest refer to different levels: individual, organizational,
inter-organizational or organizational field, embedded in different institutional environments and strategic contexts.
The sub-theme invites contributions that focus on one or more of the following issues:
- Philosophies and perspectives on time and their implications for conceptualizing practices and processes, with particular attention to the emergence of stability and change.
- What role does temporal patterning play in the enactment of practices and routines and in the production of path dependence and path creation?
- How
do routines and practices bridge the past, present and future?
- How do actions taken in routines and practices anticipate future patterns?
- How do routines and practices incorporate and/or reflect past patterns?
- What are the dynamics of persistence and change?
- How and when are initial conditions taken up in emergent patterns of action?
- How does expectation or anticipation reinforce and/or alter patterns of action?
- How does memory or reflection reinforce and/or alter patterns of action?
- What is the relation between processes that are self-reinforcing or processes that are mutually constitutive and the individual actions involved in enacting routines and practices?
- How do processes that are self-reinforcing or processes that are mutually constitutive stabilize or alter practices?
- What processes and interventions are likely to modify or to stop path dependent recursion?
Papers that discuss these and similar issues empirically or conceptually, with regard to recent or more historical developments, are cordially invited. Papers that provide rich empirical examples are especially encouraged.
The sub-theme wishes to attract both high-quality
contributions that are ready to be submitted to a research journal as well as research in progress. Papers will be distributed
in advance of the Colloquium. All paper presentations will be commented by a discussant from the group. Session leaders seek
to provide an open and encouraging atmosphere for discussion.
In order to allow for as much discussion as possible, paper presentations will be restricted to 15–20 minutes.