Shenghui Ma, Yasemin Y Kor, David Seidl, CEO advice seeking: An integrative framework and future research agenda, Journal of Management, Vol. 46 (6), 2020. (Journal Article)
In this paper, we review the burgeoning but dispersed literature on chief executive officer (CEO) advice seeking, which has important effects on strategic decision making, the CEO’s and the board of directors’ effectiveness, and firms’ entrepreneurial orientation, innovativeness, and financial performance. We synthesize research findings about the key features of CEO advice seeking and its antecedents and outcomes across multiple levels of analysis. On the basis of our review, we identify important research gaps and develop a future research agenda that outlines new research questions and empirical foci that extend the current scope of analysis. We also highlight promising new theories and underutilized methods suitable for this area of research. With an integrative review and research agenda, we hope to stimulate cross-fertilization of different lines of inquiry and encourage new research that shines a spotlight on the remaining puzzles of CEO advice-seeking research. |
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Violetta Splitter, David Seidl, Paula Jarzabkowski, Middle managers’ struggle over subjectivity in open strategy processes, In: Strategy as Practice Workshop. 2020. (Conference Presentation)
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Lars Oetterli, Strategy in the digital age: How digitalization affects strategy meetings and workshops, University of Zurich, Faculty of Business, Economics and Informatics, 2020. (Bachelor's Thesis)
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François Cooren, David Seidl, Niklas Luhmann’s radical communication approach and its implications for research on organizational communication, Academy of Management Review, Vol. 45 (2), 2020. (Journal Article)
In this review essay, we explore how Luhmann’s radical communication approach, which conceptualizes communication without recourse to human beings’ intentions, can reorient existing research on organizational communication. We show how Luhmann’s perspective puts decisions back into organizational communication studies, how it changes our perspective on organizational continuity and on organizational boundaries, and how it redirects our understanding of human agency in organizations. We also discuss three areas in which Luhmann’s theory could draw inspiration from other research on organizational communication. Keywords: autopoiesis, communication, Niklas Luhmann, organization studies, systems theory. |
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Tania Ulrike Weinfurtner, Power relations in strategic episodes: The role of reproduction and suspension practices , In: Strategic Management Society 39th Annual Conference. 2019. (Conference Presentation)
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Theresa Langenmayr, David Seidl, Participation in strategy formulation: a review and framework from a sensemaking perspective, In: Strategic Management Society (SMS) Annual Conference. 2019. (Conference Presentation)
Participation in strategy formulation has become increasingly popular in practice and theory as it is associated with the pooling of knowledge and interests as well as higher commitment and more coherent action in strategy implementation. Research on this important phenomenon has grown rapidly over the last decade, focusing particularly on extreme forms of participation such as the involvement of bigger crowds through digital platforms. Yet, previous work on participation (e.g. middle management involvement, inter-organizational strategizing) remains in separate literature streams and is lacking integration. Therefore, there is a need for a systematic review and evaluation of existing work. Adopting central sensemaking concepts, we review the literature in terms of how participants’ interests, frame repertoires and power affect their selection of cues and frames during collective strategy formulation. We develop a framework that shows how both sensemaking dynamics as well as possible design options result in a (shared or fragmented) strategic agenda and understanding. On this basis, a concrete research agenda is developed in terms of topics, methodologies, and theories. |
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Thomas Karl Gegenhuber, Maximilian Heimstädt, Georg Reischauer, Violetta Splitter, Werner Helmut Hoffmann, Shahzad Ansari, Tomi Laamanen, Ann Majchrzak, Richard Whittington, Digital Strategizing: Crafting Strategy in the Age of Platforms, Ecosystems, and Online Communities, In: 79th Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management, Academy of Management. 2019. (Conference Presentation)
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David Seidl, Tania Ulrike Weinfurtner, How Space Shapes Strategy Making, In: 79th Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management. 2019. (Conference Presentation)
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Theresa Langenmayr, David Seidl, Participation in strategy formulation: an integration of past research from a sensemaking perspective, In: Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management (AOM) . 2019. (Conference Presentation)
Participation in strategy formulation has become increasingly popular in practice and theory as it is associated with the pooling of knowledge and interests as well as higher commitment and more coherent action in strategy implementation. Research on this important phenomenon has grown rapidly over the last decade, focusing particularly on extreme forms of participation such as the involvement of bigger crowds through digital platforms. Yet, previous work on participation (e.g. middle management involvement, inter-organizational strategizing) remains in separate literature streams and is lacking integration. Therefore, there is a need for a systematic review and evaluation of existing work. Adopting central sensemaking concepts, we review the literature in terms of how participants’ interests, frame repertoires and power affect their selection of cues and frames during collective strategy formulation. We develop a framework that shows how both sensemaking dynamics as well as possible design options result in a (shared or fragmented) strategic agenda and understanding. On this basis, a concrete research agenda is developed in terms of topics, methodologies, and theories. |
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Theresa Langenmayr, David Seidl, Understanding participation in strategy formulation: An integration of past research from a sensemaking perspective., In: European Group for Organizational Studies (EGOS) Conference. 2019. (Conference Presentation)
Participation in strategy formulation has become increasingly popular in practice and theory as it is associated with the pooling of knowledge and interests as well as higher commitment and more coherent action in strategy implementation. Research on this important phenomenon has grown rapidly over the last decade, focusing particularly on extreme forms of participation such as the involvement of bigger crowds through digital platforms. Yet, previous work on participation (e.g. middle management involvement, inter-organizational strategizing) remains in separate literature streams and is lacking integration. Therefore, there is a need for a systematic review and evaluation of existing work. Adopting central sensemaking concepts, we review the literature in terms of how participants’ interests, frame repertoires and power affect their selection of cues and frames during collective strategy formulation. We develop a framework that shows how both sensemaking dynamics as well as possible design options result in a (shared or fragmented) strategic agenda and understanding. On this basis, a concrete research agenda is developed in terms of topics, methodologies, and theories. |
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Tania Weinfurtner, David Seidl, Toward a spatial perspective: An integrative review of research on organizational space, Scandinavian Journal of Management, Vol. 35 (2), 2019. (Journal Article)
Although the notion of space has gained considerable attention in organisation studies, it remains vague, and the respective literature is fragmented. In this paper, we review the empirical literature on organisational space with the aim of synthesising the findings of existing research and thereby facilitating the development of cumulative knowledge in this field. We highlight three dominant concepts that define space: boundaries, distance and movement. Furthermore, we identify four major spatial themes: the distribution of positions in space, the isolation of space, the differentiation of spaces and the intersection of distinct spaces. On that basis, we develop a comprehensive research framework and propose an agenda for future research on organisations from a spatial perspective. |
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Tania Ulrike Weinfurtner, David Seidl, How space shapes strategy making, In: European Theory Development Workshop. 2019. (Conference Presentation)
In this study, we examine how strategy making takes place across different types of interaction spaces. Based on a one-year ethnographic field study of a strategy development process in a division of a large information technology company, we found that strategists use different kinds of spaces for different purposes. We show that planned and ad-hoc process-driven spaces and planned and ad-hoc issue-driven spaces fulfil complementary roles (such as content advancement, content redirection, scope extension, scope reduction) that are all necessary for the development of strategic issues. |
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Theresa Langmayr, Implementation of strategic change by franchisees: a sensemaking perspective, Junior Management Science, Vol. 4 (2), 2019. (Journal Article)
Franchisees play an important role when inter-organizational change, initiated by franchisors, is to be implemented. The objective of this thesis is to gain insights into franchisees’ sensemaking activities. Drawing on sensemaking theories and franchising literature, a case study on franchisees in the automotive industry reveals how social processes of interaction, within and across their organizational boundaries, influence their interpretations of change initiatives. It contributes to the sensemaking literature through expanding research to inter-organizational change. It also contributes to the franchising literature through analyzing the franchisees’ role during franchisor-initiated change from a sensemaking perspective. |
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Carlo Salvato, Francesco Chirico, Leif Melin, David Seidl, Coupling family business research with organization studies: interpretations, issues and insights, Organization Studies, Vol. 40 (6), 2019. (Journal Article)
Family-controlled firms are the most widespread form of business organization, but they have so far attracted limited attention from organizational scholars. The present work suggests that coupling research on family business organizations with organization studies will substantially benefit both areas of scholarly research. We explore how the five core defining features of family firms – ownership, management and governance, transgenerational intention, generational involvement and perceived identity – may be illuminated by extant research in organization studies, and how, in turn, organizational studies may be extended by investigating its key themes in the empirical context of family firms. |
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Annalea Dubs, Demografischer Wandel: Wahrnehmung und Umgang seitens Schweizer Unternehmen, University of Zurich, Faculty of Business, Economics and Informatics, 2019. (Bachelor's Thesis)
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Jacqueline Marlies Kalberer, The organizational department as a social space: Power, structure, and interpersonal relations, University of Zurich, Faculty of Business, Economics and Informatics, 2019. (Bachelor's Thesis)
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Theresa Langmayr, Violetta Splitter, Open Strategy at AXA UK & Ireland - a new approach to strategy making., January 1 - 2019. (Other Publication)
For decades companies have developed strategies behind closed doors. Today, more and more organizations decide to pursue “Open Strategy”. AXA UKI is a leading example by giving their employees more visibility in the strategy process and letting them contribute their own ideas. |
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Georg Loscher, Violetta Splitter, David Seidl, Theodore Schatzki’s practice theory and its implications for organization studies, In: Management, Organizations and Contemporary Social Theory, Routledge, New York, p. 115 - 134, 2019. (Book Chapter)
This chapter introduces the practice theory developed by Theodore Schatzki and highlights its implications for organization studies. In particular, it shows how his theory contributes to our understanding of the micro-foundations of organizations, the embeddedness of organizations in their wider social context, and the temporal and spatial dimensions of organizations. It also discusses how Schatzki’s theory can be applied in empirical research on organizations. |
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Katja Rost, David Seidl, The impact of balanced gender proportions in the workplace: Contrasting theories of in-group bias against status construction theory using Roman-Catholic Monasticism, In: Unternehmen und Klöster, Springer, Wiesbaden, p. 379 - 401, 2019. (Book Chapter)
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Violetta Splitter, David Seidl, Richard Whittington, Practice-theoretical perspectives on open strategy: implications of a strong programme, In: Cambridge Handbook of open strategy, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, p. 221 - 240, 2019. (Book Chapter)
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