Sensemaking involves turning circumstances into a situation that is comprehended explicitly in words and serves as springboard action. In this paper we take the position concept of sensemaking fills important gaps organizational theory. The seemingly transient nature belies its central role determination human behavior, whether people are acting formal organizations or elsewhere. because it primary site where meanings materialize inform constrain identity purpose to stock sensemaking. We do...

High reliability organizations (HROs) such as ER units in hospitals or firefighting are designed to perform efficiently under extreme stress and pressure. Using HROs the model for 21st century organization, Karl Weick Kathleen Sutcliffe show readers how respond unexpected challenges with flexibility rather than rigidity reduce disruptive effects of change by using tools sensemaking, reduction, migrating decisions, labeling. Introducing powerful new concept mindfulness, authors outline five...

Research on crisis management and resilience has sought to explain how individuals organizations anticipate respond adversity, yet—surprisingly—there been little integration across these two literatures. In this paper, we review the literatures discuss opportunities both integrate advance streams of research. We identify unique lines work management: crisis-as-an-event crisis-as-process. complementary research in literature explore their implications for studies crisis. Building reviews,...

Thriving describes an individual’s experience of vitality and learning. The primary goal this paper is to develop a model that illuminates the social embeddedness employees’ thriving at work. First, we explain why useful theoretical construct, define thriving, compare it related constructs, including resilience, flourishing, subjective well-being, flow, self-actualization. Second, describe how work contexts facilitate agentic behaviors, which in turn produce resources doing serve as engine...

Functional diversity in teams has been conceptualized a variety of ways without careful attention to how different conceptualizations might lead results. We examined the process and...

Mindfulness as depicted by Levinthal and Rerup (2006) involves encoding ambiguous outcomes in ways that influence learning, stimuli match context with a repertoire of routines. We add to Rerup’s conjectures examining Western Eastern versions mindfulness how they function process knowing an object. In our expanded view, becomes less central. What more central are activities such altering the codes, differentiating introspecting coding itself, and, most all, reducing overall dependence on...

The singular emphasis on control that has characterized traditional approaches to total quality management (TQM) implementation are not well suited conditions of high task uncertainty, a limitation been recognized in the popular TQM movement. Although fundamental precepts advocated by founders movement can accommodate way these basic have articulated, extended, and applied reflected distinct, learning-oriented requirements associated with higher levels uncertainty. A broader, more...

In this paper we outline the contours of a theory organizational resilience as well research agenda. First, identify how notion has become increasingly important to all organizations and argue that organization currently does not reflect its importance. Second reconcile varying definitions create definition resilience. Third, affective, cognitive, relational, structural mechanisms constitutive Fourth, develop questions regarding antecedents

Although research has suggested that teams can differ in the extent to which they encourage proactive learning and competence development among their members (a team orientation), performance consequences of these differences are not well understood. Drawing from on goal orientation learning, this article suggests that, although a adaptive behaviors lead improved performance, it is also possible for compromise near term by overemphasizing particularly when have been performing well. A test...

Previous studies examining the relationship between uncertainty and vertical integration have produced a conflicting set of results. To clarify this puzzle we drew on literature to conceptualize three distinct forms uncertainty—primary, competitive, supplier—and hypothesized that each had different effect integration. The hypotheses were tested using experimental data collected from 308 managers. Consistent with our prediction differential effects, found primary competitive negatively...

This paper describes assumptions, rationale, and track-offs involved in designing the research methodology used a longitudinal study of relationships among changes organizational contexts, designs, effectiveness. The basic question concerns when how, why do different types change occur. Given this desire to develop test generalizable theory about design effectiveness, we conducted over 100 organizations. Data concerning were obtained through four interviews spaced six months apart with top...

The collapse of the roof Baltimore & Ohio (B&O) Railroad Museum Roundhouse onto its collections during a snowstorm in 2003 provides starting point for our exploration link between learning and rare events. occurred as museum was preparing another event: Fair Iron Horse, an event planned to celebrate 175th anniversary American railroading. Our analysis these events, grounded data collected through interviews archival materials, reveals that issue is not so much what organizations...

Background: Evidence that medical error is a systemic problem requiring solutions continues to expand. Developing “safety culture” one potential strategy toward improving patient safety. A reliable and valid self-report measure of safety culture needed both grounded in concrete behaviors positively related Objective: We sought develop test organizing captures the theorized underlie demonstrates use for potentially as evidenced by fewer reported medication errors falls. Subjects: total 1685...

Ray, Baker, and Plowman's (2011) study of organizational mindfulness highlights latent tensions in the literature promising avenues for future research. Their provides a springboard reconciling by differentiating from mindful organizing, establishing where organizing are most important, clarifying how when each construct can be fruitfully deployed research practice. Clearer theorizing leads to set questions that seek integrate multiple conceptions individual mindfulness, establish their...

High performance is often attributed to an organization's culture. However, culture can just as easily undermine when it blinds decision makers important issues and entraps them in unfortunate courses of action from which they cannot disengage. The dynamics cultural entrapment are explored the case Bristol Royal Infirmary, pediatrie cardiac surgeries continued for over a fourteen-year period despite evidence poor quality care that was far below other comparable surgical centers. A single...

This study examines variation in top executives' environmental perceptions within firms and industries. More specifically, we investigate how industry organizational membership affect of five attributes. Results indicate that significant homogeneity exists also Approximately 40 percent the variance individual top-level aspects their respective organization's environment is explained by membership. Implications findings for strategic management organization theory future research are...

Context: Prior research has found that safety organizing behaviors of registered nurses (RNs) positively impact patient safety. However, little exists on the joint benefits and other contextual factors help foster Objectives: Although we know organizational practices often have more powerful effects when combined with mutually reinforcing practices, believed to Specifically, examined bundling leadership (trust in manager) design (use care pathways) reported medication errors. Subjects: A...