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Process multiplicity and process dynamics : weaving the space of possible paths
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Pentland, Brian T., Mahringer, Christian A., Dittrich, Katharina, Feldman, Martha S. and Wolf, Julie Ryan (2020) Process multiplicity and process dynamics : weaving the space of possible paths. Organization Theory, 1 (3). doi:10.1177/2631787720963138 ISSN 2631-7877.
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Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1177/2631787720963138
Abstract
In research on process organization studies, the concept of multiplicity is widely used, but a fundamental confusion about what process multiplicity means persists. As a result, we miss some of the potential of this concept for understanding process dynamics and process change. In this paper, we define process multiplicity as a duality of ‘one’ and ‘many’, and we conceptualize ‘the many’ as a space of possible paths encompassed by a process. We use the notion of paths to operationalize process multiplicity and make it accessible for empirical research. When we see process as a multiplicity, process change can be understood as expanding, shifting or contracting the space of possible paths. We suggest that this concept of process multiplicity also has implications for a range of other theoretical and practical topics, including standards, standardization and flexibility as well as process replication, management and resilience.
Item Type: | Journal Article | |||||||||
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Subjects: | H Social Sciences > HM Sociology | |||||||||
Divisions: | Faculty of Social Sciences > Warwick Business School | |||||||||
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): | Organizational sociology, Multiplicity (Mathematics), Planning | |||||||||
Journal or Publication Title: | Organization Theory | |||||||||
Publisher: | SAGE Publications | |||||||||
ISSN: | 2631-7877 | |||||||||
Official Date: | 29 September 2020 | |||||||||
Dates: |
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Volume: | 1 | |||||||||
Number: | 3 | |||||||||
DOI: | 10.1177/2631787720963138 | |||||||||
Status: | Peer Reviewed | |||||||||
Publication Status: | Published | |||||||||
Access rights to Published version: | Open Access (Creative Commons) | |||||||||
Date of first compliant deposit: | 30 September 2020 | |||||||||
Date of first compliant Open Access: | 5 October 2020 | |||||||||
RIOXX Funder/Project Grant: |
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