The Library
Perspective—Chance explanations in the management sciences
Tools
Denrell, Jerker, Fang, Christina and Liu, Chengwei (2015) Perspective—Chance explanations in the management sciences. Organization Science, 26 (3). pp. 923-940. doi:10.1287/orsc.2014.0946 ISSN 1047-7039.
Research output not available from this repository.
Request-a-Copy directly from author or use local Library Get it For Me service.
Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1287/orsc.2014.0946
Abstract
We propose that random variation should be considered one of the most important explanatory mechanisms in the management sciences. There are good theoretical reasons to expect that chance events strongly impact organizational behavior and outcomes. We argue that models built on random variation can provide parsimonious explanations of several important empirical regularities in strategic management and organizational behavior. The reason is that random variation in a structured system can give rise to systematic patterns at the macro level. Here, we define the concept of a chance explanation; describe the theoretical mechanisms by which random variation generates patterns at the macro level; outline how key empirical regularities in management can be explained by chance models; and discuss the implications of chance models for theoretical integration, empirical testing, and management practice.
Item Type: | Journal Article | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Divisions: | Faculty of Social Sciences > Warwick Business School | ||||||
Journal or Publication Title: | Organization Science | ||||||
Publisher: | Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (I N F O R M S) | ||||||
ISSN: | 1047-7039 | ||||||
Official Date: | May 2015 | ||||||
Dates: |
|
||||||
Volume: | 26 | ||||||
Number: | 3 | ||||||
Page Range: | pp. 923-940 | ||||||
DOI: | 10.1287/orsc.2014.0946 | ||||||
Status: | Peer Reviewed | ||||||
Publication Status: | Published | ||||||
Access rights to Published version: | Restricted or Subscription Access |
Request changes or add full text files to a record
Repository staff actions (login required)
View Item |