Reading Routine Dynamics

Technical Notes on Feldman and Pentland (2003)

Abstract

This technical note introduces and expounds routine dynamics, the research field that are getting widespread attention in management science. It is found that there are some key points in routine dynamics. Routine dynamics sees change of organizational routine (OR) as an ordinal thing based on the observations of university-related organizations. For this kind of change, organizational agents have important effects. Agents refer ostensive aspect of OR as a rule, but improvise concrete actions depending on the situations. After that, interactions among agents select and retain new ORs. Organizations change in this way from the routine dynamics viewpoint. Routine dynamics is a fruitful view, but some unsolved questions also exist.