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Contribution Details

Type Journal Article
Scope Discipline-based scholarship
Title Emerging intentionality in routine dynamics: A pragmatist view
Organization Unit
Authors
  • Katharina Dittrich
  • David Seidl
Item Subtype Original Work
Refereed Yes
Status Published in final form
Language
  • English
Journal Title Academy of Management Journal
Publisher Academy of Management
Geographical Reach international
ISSN 0001-4273
Volume 61
Number 1
Page Range 111 - 138
Date 2018
Abstract Text This paper responds to recent interest in the role of intentionality in the internal dynamics of routines. Previous research has focused on how routine participants bring particular intentions to the performance of a routine and choose the means for accomplishing the pre-defined ends accordingly. Drawing on the pragmatist theory of action and a yearlong ethnographic study of a pharmaceutical company, we uncover “emerging intentionality” in routine performances. We show how the foregrounding of means within the concrete situation at hand might lead to the emergence of new ends to pursue. Moreover, we find that the emergence of new ends in routine performances might result in updating the goals for the routine and its associated patterns. With these findings, we contribute to a better understanding of the full spectrum of intentional action in routine dynamics, ranging from purposeful action (foregrounding ends) to purposive action (foregrounding means). This expanded perspective on intentionality in routine dynamics suggests a greater potential for continuous routine change than previous research has acknowledged.
Digital Object Identifier 10.5465/amj.2015.0010
Other Identification Number merlin-id:15965
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