Path Dependence in Repetitive Patterns of Action

在医疗保健、能源和环境等关键领域，组织可能陷入不受欢迎的行动模式。一些改变的障碍根植于个人的习惯和信仰，但在许多情况下，问题在于组织，因为行动模式变得例行化。“路径依赖”指的是当前行动影响未来行动的趋势。人们普遍认为，路径依赖会导致重复的行动模式变得“僵化”，并抵制改变，比如组织习惯。然而，这个研究团队已经进行了初步研究，确定了路径依赖可以导致持续变化和学习的条件。这个项目将使用来自工作流管理系统和计算机模拟的数据来建立一个更精细的理论，以确定行动模式何时被锁定，何时保持开放的变化，以及使创新和变化成为可能的因素。这项工作将考虑模式的内在结构和可变性，以及社交网络和自动化的影响。研究结果将使人们对组织的稳定和变革的基本问题有更深入的了解。除了学术出版物和演示文稿外，这项拟议的工作还将产生分析软件工具，其他研究人员可以使用这些工具来调查行动模式随时间的变化。该项目包括与挪威奥斯陆的BI挪威管理学院合作。

In critical areas such as health care, energy, and environment, organizations can get stuck in undesirable patterns of action. Some barriers to change are rooted in individual habits and beliefs, but in many situations, the problem is organizational, as patterns of action become routinized. "Path dependence" refers to the tendency for current actions to influence future actions. It is widely assumed that path dependence causes repetitive patterns of action to become "locked in" and resistant to change, like organizational habits. However, this research team has conducted preliminary research that has identified conditions under which path dependence can lead to continuous change and learning. This project will use data from workflow management systems and computer simulations to build a more refined theory of when patterns of action get locked in, when they remain open to change and the factors that make innovation and change possible. The work will consider the inherent structure and variability of patterns, as well as effects of social networks and automation. The results will provide insight into fundamental issues of stability and change in organizations. In addition to scholarly publications and presentations, the proposed work will result in analytical software tools that other researchers can use to investigate changes in patterns of action over time. The project includes a collaboration with the BI Norwegian School of Management, in Oslo, Norway.