组织结构变革中的路径依赖与路径突破

组织结构变革是组织管理研究中的核心问题之一。结构变革中的路径依赖形成与突破涉及不同层面的众多因素,现有研究中缺乏将组织微观动力机制与组织结构变革进行整体分析的视角。但研究发现,组织结构系统内生地蕴含着路径依赖和路径突破的特性。组织内部因组织结构惰性而导致的路径依赖具有两面性。当外部环境发生变化时,组织变革领导者必须认识到路径依赖产生的积极影响和消极影响,通过组织学习,突破行为惯性和管理认知惯性,充分发挥路径创造和路径突破方面的能动性,"有意识地偏离"组织原有的路径,积极进行路径突破和创造。

Path Dependence and Path Breaking in Changes of Organizational Structures

The issue of changes of organizational structures is one of the core issues in the study of organizational management.Path dependence and path breaking in changes of organizational structures involve many factors at various levels.Current research in this area lacks a perspective from which holistic analysis can be conducted of micro dynamic mechanisms in organizations and changes of organizational structures.However,our research reveals that there are characteristics of path dependence and path breaking inherent in organizational structures.It is also found that path dependence resulting from structural inertia is a double-edged sword,since,when the external environment changes,leaders of organizational changes must recognize the positive and negative influence of path dependence,and break down behavioral inertia and managerial cognitive inertia through organizational learning,with a view to fully exploiting the initiative in creating and breaking paths and "consciously diverting themselves from" the original path to explore new paths.