Sub-theme 37: Strategic Learning in Practice: Understanding the Complexity of Organizational Learning
Call for Papers
In complex and turbulent environments a firm's ability to learn and to change is central to its survival. The question
as to how organizations learn and unlearn and how they manage the tensions between stability and change is addressed by research
on strategic and change management, organizational learning, absorptive capacity, ambidexterity and innovation (e.g., Easterby
et al., 2008; Eisenhardt & Martin, 2000; Farjoun, 2010; March, 1991; O'Reilly & Tushman, 2011). A wide array of theoretical
perspectives as well as empirical evidence characterizes the field of organizational learning and strategic change. However,
research lacks on in-depth studies of the dynamic process of learning and change (cf. Antonacopoulou & Chiva, 2007). Thus,
it is necessary to bridge literature streams that so far mainly have been discussed separately and to combine this knowledge
in order to provide an integrated interactional perspective to understand the complexity of learning and change practices
with strategic imperatives. This topic is particularly relevant in times when continuous learning and change are essential
requirements to meet the challenges of an economic situation characterized by unpredictability, risk, and uncertainty.
The aim of the sub-theme is bridging strategic considerations with learning and change practices to discuss inertia
on individual, group, and organizational levels that undermine adaptation to newly discovered demands. We are looking for
empirical and theoretical papers that analyze learning and change processes in order to understand strategic decision-making
patterns, learning and change architectures and their impact on practices to deal with turbulent environments. Further, we
also intend to discuss how firms transform their learning and change strategy and architecture into practice in order to react
to the complexity of a disruptively evolving environment. We also welcome papers that investigate learning and change from
a contrary perspective to understand how firms suppress learning and reconfiguration even in turbulent environments to achieve
high-reliability or to replicate business models exactly.
Thus, we welcome contributions that address questions such as the following:
- How can organizations manage tensions of stability and change especially in turbulent environments?
- How do firms deal with complex and dynamically evolving environments to survive?
- How can firms overcome inertia and transform their learning and change strategy into practice?
- How do strategic decision-making patterns, rules, cultural norms and values influence organizational learning and change?
- How can firms govern learning and change by creating appropriate architectures and supportive HR practices?
References
Antonacopoulou, Elena & Ricardo Chiva (2007): 'The social complexity of organization learning: the dynamics of learning and organizing.' Management Learning, 38, 277–295.
Easterby-Smith, Mark, Manuel Graça, Elena Antonacopoulou & Jason Ferdinand (2008): 'Absorptive capacity: a process perspective.' Management Learning, 39, 483–501.
Eisenhardt, Kathleen M. & Jeffrey A. Martin (2000): 'Dynamic capabilities: what are they?' Strategic Management Journal, 21, 1105–1121.
Farjoun, Moshe (2010): 'Beyond dualism: stability and change as a dualism.' Academy of Management Review, 35, 202–225.
March, James G. (1991): 'Exploration and exploitation in organizational learning.' Organization Science, 2, 71–87.
O'Reilly, Charles A. & Michael L. Tushman (2011): 'Organizational ambidexterity in action: how managers explore and exploit.' California Management Review, 53, 1–18.