When I juxtapose these two quotes, I find myself, as an intellectualacademic-practitioner, in the... more When I juxtapose these two quotes, I find myself, as an intellectualacademic-practitioner, in the first world, perhaps in a similar frame of mind as the Bangladeshi delegate who wrote the following in a selfreport on the course: ’I am beginning to see the world through the gender lens, and there is turmoil in my heart’ (p. 242). Reading Gender. Culture and Organi:ational Change in the light of my superficial awareness of a culture where one transports papers in a rickshaw (would a fax machine have solved the problem, I wonder) brings home the extent to which the authors neglect not only the context of their own projects but also those of the women who participate in them as
Administration, University of Uppsala, Uppsala, Sweden The arenas are different, as are the steps... more Administration, University of Uppsala, Uppsala, Sweden The arenas are different, as are the steps taken by the protagonists in these two books on the British press in the 1970s. Both, however, constitute reflections on the economic problems faced by newspaper companies in many countries due to competition from other media, rising prices of newsprint and saturation of both the readers’ and the advertisers’ markets. The response in the newspaper industry resembles that in other trades: efforts to increase productivity. An avenue which has attracted particular attention in newspaper companies in the last two decades is that provided by new printing technology (computers, photocomposition and offset printing). In Britain, as elsewhere, it was first introduced in provincial papers and by the mid-1970s had reached the nationals in Fleet Street. The background to and the outcome of the efforts to change technology there are diligently illustrated in Roderick Martin’s book New Technology and Industrial Relations in Fleet Street. As far as the background is concerned, the author points to three environmental pressures for change: the business of newspapers was declining, politicians criticized their coverage, and printing technology was developing rapidly. In this situation employers and a major proportion of the unions cooperated in a Joint Standing Committee to suggest solutions for the problems of the national newspapers. Their work resulted in a document, Programme for Action, supported by the leadership of both employers and unions. This programme was rejected, however, by a vote of the union members. As a result the major publishing houses entered into house negotiations. The book shows that an important obstacle in these talks was the fragmentation of the labour unions with many different chapels in each house.
Hier wird die These vertreten, dass die Business Schools der USA allmahlich zum Vorbild fur Manag... more Hier wird die These vertreten, dass die Business Schools der USA allmahlich zum Vorbild fur Managementausbildung in nordischen Landern geworden sind und diese Ausbildung sukzessive starker amerikanisiert worden ist. Die Entwicklung ist Ergebnis des Zusammenspiels von institutionellen Strukturen und bedeutsamen Akteuren. Nach einer Zusammenfassung der institutionellen Entwicklung in den nordischen Landern und der Vorbilder werden die Ideengeber ins Blickfeld geruckt und es wird gezeigt, wie sowohl Studierende als auch Lehrende in zunehmendem Mas ihr Augenmerk auf die Vereinigten Staaten gerichtet haben. Auf dieser Grundlage werden dann Ergebnisse des Amerikanisierungsprozesses, d. h. die Lehrplane und insbesondere die Herkunft von Lehrbuchern betrachtet. Es wird gezeigt, dass der bedeutsamste Anteil der auslandischen Literatur aus den Vereinigten Staaten stammt. Diese Literatur hat fur alle nordischen Lander zumindest die gleiche Bedeutung wie die nordische; in Finnland und Norwegen spielt die amerikanische Literatur sogar eine vorherrschende Rolle. Abschliesend wird darauf hingewiesen, dass diese Amerikanisierungstendenzen in den letzten zehn Jahren durch das Ranking von Business Schools in den Medien und durch Akkreditierungsverfahren noch verstarkt worden sind.
ABSTRACT This paper reports the results of (1) a study of daily newspapers in Sweden during the p... more ABSTRACT This paper reports the results of (1) a study of daily newspapers in Sweden during the post-war period, and (2) a forecast of the future structure of the Swedish daily press. It is shown that although the number of newspapers has declined considerably, the degree of concentration-measured by the Gini-coefficient-seems to have remained relatively constant between 1945 and 1971. The forecasting applications show that, provided no radical changes occur in the process, the most likely number of newspapers in 1985 will be 69. These remaining newspapers will probably be more equal in size than those published in 1971.
In discussing the future of universities, the chapter first points to the significance of the his... more In discussing the future of universities, the chapter first points to the significance of the historical development portrayed in the early chapters of the book as well as the fact that universities have been extremely resilient over time. The chapter revisits the challenges discussed in the later chapters and notices the voices expressing concern about the future of universities. With this in mind, the chapter returns to the governance model presented in Chap. 1, which consists of the interplay of Regulators, Market Actors and Scrutinizers and the Institutions themselves. In regard to Regulators, future universities can be expected to face increasing pressures on governance because of nationally defined interests. A blurring of the distinction between public and private institutions is probably inevitable and has in some instances already occurred. There are also reasons to believe that universities will be under increasing competition from various Market Actors, new as well as old ones. In this competition, universities have the advantages accruing to age and longer periods of reputation building. Furthermore, Scrutinizers will play an increasingly significant role for future universities. This in turn is likely to increase the administrative overhead of Institutions as well as their use of intermediaries.
'Note, however, Weick's remark 'Organizing is not necessarily an attempt to attain some specific ... more 'Note, however, Weick's remark 'Organizing is not necessarily an attempt to attain some specific goal. The absence of a goal in the Grook makes it mure, rather than less, like an organhation'.
IN traditional economic theory the firm is assumed to have access to perfect information. Consequ... more IN traditional economic theory the firm is assumed to have access to perfect information. Consequently, firms have been assumed to be able to respond directly to changing conditions in a particular market. As economic theory has developed, this assumption has been challenged and, as a result, an increasing emphasis on the exchange of information has emerged.1 Such an emphasis on exchange of information can also be observed in organizational studies of business firms. Thus, in studies of human and organizational behaviour considerable interest has been devoted to communication within organizations2 and between organizations.3 Among these studies some of those focusing on communication within organizations have employed experimental technique^,^ whereas those directed toward the communication between organizations have surveyed contact patterns. In this study we will focus on the exchange of information between organixations using an experimental technique. The question we are addressing in that context, however, concerns not the communication patterns but the speed of communication between business firms and their environment. Specifically, we will investigate the handling of bidding requests, an activity of prime importance for firms which produce non-standardized products and services. In the following section we will formulate a number of hypotheses concerning the speed of response time. These will be investigated according to the research design described below, and the results of the study are presented in a subsequent section. 1Cf. Hirschleifer, I., 'Where Are We in the Theory of Information?', American Economic
In this Introduction to the special issue, we begin by providing a brief review of the way histor... more In this Introduction to the special issue, we begin by providing a brief review of the way history has been treated in existing work on organizational change, noting that a historical approach has either been non-existent or at best employed in a 'supplementarist' way. We then proceed to summarizing the empirical and theoretical foundations and the core arguments of the articles included in this special issue. In the final section, we conclude by pointing to the main themes that emerge from these articles and the contributions that they make to the literature.
This article is based on a longitudinal study of a Swedish Social Democratic newspaper and examin... more This article is based on a longitudinal study of a Swedish Social Democratic newspaper and examines its `organizational drift' over time in response to changing patterns of resource dependence. The early goals of the newspaper as a means of political communication were subsequently overtaken by such criteria as economic performance and journalistic professionalism. This, in turn, had implications for the organizational and reward structures of the company.
Politiques et gestion de l'enseignement supérieur, Nov 29, 2007
Ce document analyse l’evolution des modeles de gouvernance universitaire due aux exigences accrue... more Ce document analyse l’evolution des modeles de gouvernance universitaire due aux exigences accrues de la societe, mais egalement a une penetration massive de l’ideologie manageriale dans toutes les formes d’institutions. La reflexion proposee utilise a cet effet un cadre theorique axe principalement sur deux mecanismes de gouvernance appliques dans les systemes sociaux, a savoir le controle de l’acces et le controle des performances. Ceux-ci relevent d’un ensemble de facteurs d’homogeneisation plus vaste, que les nouveaux institutionnalistes appellent (1) forces coercitives, (2) forces normatives et (3) forces mimetiques. S’appuyant sur ce cadre theorique pour analyser l’evolution des universites suedoises, l’auteur conclut que leur gouvernance a subi de profondes mutations. Les forces coercitives, autrefois exercees via une gestion budgetaire detaillee, se sont manifestees ces dernieres annees par le biais de la representation au sein des organes de direction et du choix des dirigeants universitaires. Cette transition s’est operee au detriment des forces normatives. Parallelement, les doctrines manageriales modernes sont a l’origine de puissantes forces mimetiques.
This paper seeks to summarize the present state of organization theory. It takes as its starting-... more This paper seeks to summarize the present state of organization theory. It takes as its starting-point the work of early organization theorists and demonstrates that their work has been challenged in basically four different ways, i.e. regarding the view on (a) individuals in organizations, (b) the interaction among individuals in organizations, (c) the relationship between organizations and their environments and (d) the technology of organizations. The implications of these qualifications are discussed with reference to recent literature. These discussions led to the conclusion that the number of research questions have increased rather than decreased over the years. Thus, a unified organizatinn theory may be less valid today than at the beginning of the century. This circumstance, however, it is argued, should not he considered a regression but rather a sign of increasing insilzht.
When I juxtapose these two quotes, I find myself, as an intellectualacademic-practitioner, in the... more When I juxtapose these two quotes, I find myself, as an intellectualacademic-practitioner, in the first world, perhaps in a similar frame of mind as the Bangladeshi delegate who wrote the following in a selfreport on the course: ’I am beginning to see the world through the gender lens, and there is turmoil in my heart’ (p. 242). Reading Gender. Culture and Organi:ational Change in the light of my superficial awareness of a culture where one transports papers in a rickshaw (would a fax machine have solved the problem, I wonder) brings home the extent to which the authors neglect not only the context of their own projects but also those of the women who participate in them as
Administration, University of Uppsala, Uppsala, Sweden The arenas are different, as are the steps... more Administration, University of Uppsala, Uppsala, Sweden The arenas are different, as are the steps taken by the protagonists in these two books on the British press in the 1970s. Both, however, constitute reflections on the economic problems faced by newspaper companies in many countries due to competition from other media, rising prices of newsprint and saturation of both the readers’ and the advertisers’ markets. The response in the newspaper industry resembles that in other trades: efforts to increase productivity. An avenue which has attracted particular attention in newspaper companies in the last two decades is that provided by new printing technology (computers, photocomposition and offset printing). In Britain, as elsewhere, it was first introduced in provincial papers and by the mid-1970s had reached the nationals in Fleet Street. The background to and the outcome of the efforts to change technology there are diligently illustrated in Roderick Martin’s book New Technology and Industrial Relations in Fleet Street. As far as the background is concerned, the author points to three environmental pressures for change: the business of newspapers was declining, politicians criticized their coverage, and printing technology was developing rapidly. In this situation employers and a major proportion of the unions cooperated in a Joint Standing Committee to suggest solutions for the problems of the national newspapers. Their work resulted in a document, Programme for Action, supported by the leadership of both employers and unions. This programme was rejected, however, by a vote of the union members. As a result the major publishing houses entered into house negotiations. The book shows that an important obstacle in these talks was the fragmentation of the labour unions with many different chapels in each house.
Hier wird die These vertreten, dass die Business Schools der USA allmahlich zum Vorbild fur Manag... more Hier wird die These vertreten, dass die Business Schools der USA allmahlich zum Vorbild fur Managementausbildung in nordischen Landern geworden sind und diese Ausbildung sukzessive starker amerikanisiert worden ist. Die Entwicklung ist Ergebnis des Zusammenspiels von institutionellen Strukturen und bedeutsamen Akteuren. Nach einer Zusammenfassung der institutionellen Entwicklung in den nordischen Landern und der Vorbilder werden die Ideengeber ins Blickfeld geruckt und es wird gezeigt, wie sowohl Studierende als auch Lehrende in zunehmendem Mas ihr Augenmerk auf die Vereinigten Staaten gerichtet haben. Auf dieser Grundlage werden dann Ergebnisse des Amerikanisierungsprozesses, d. h. die Lehrplane und insbesondere die Herkunft von Lehrbuchern betrachtet. Es wird gezeigt, dass der bedeutsamste Anteil der auslandischen Literatur aus den Vereinigten Staaten stammt. Diese Literatur hat fur alle nordischen Lander zumindest die gleiche Bedeutung wie die nordische; in Finnland und Norwegen spielt die amerikanische Literatur sogar eine vorherrschende Rolle. Abschliesend wird darauf hingewiesen, dass diese Amerikanisierungstendenzen in den letzten zehn Jahren durch das Ranking von Business Schools in den Medien und durch Akkreditierungsverfahren noch verstarkt worden sind.
ABSTRACT This paper reports the results of (1) a study of daily newspapers in Sweden during the p... more ABSTRACT This paper reports the results of (1) a study of daily newspapers in Sweden during the post-war period, and (2) a forecast of the future structure of the Swedish daily press. It is shown that although the number of newspapers has declined considerably, the degree of concentration-measured by the Gini-coefficient-seems to have remained relatively constant between 1945 and 1971. The forecasting applications show that, provided no radical changes occur in the process, the most likely number of newspapers in 1985 will be 69. These remaining newspapers will probably be more equal in size than those published in 1971.
In discussing the future of universities, the chapter first points to the significance of the his... more In discussing the future of universities, the chapter first points to the significance of the historical development portrayed in the early chapters of the book as well as the fact that universities have been extremely resilient over time. The chapter revisits the challenges discussed in the later chapters and notices the voices expressing concern about the future of universities. With this in mind, the chapter returns to the governance model presented in Chap. 1, which consists of the interplay of Regulators, Market Actors and Scrutinizers and the Institutions themselves. In regard to Regulators, future universities can be expected to face increasing pressures on governance because of nationally defined interests. A blurring of the distinction between public and private institutions is probably inevitable and has in some instances already occurred. There are also reasons to believe that universities will be under increasing competition from various Market Actors, new as well as old ones. In this competition, universities have the advantages accruing to age and longer periods of reputation building. Furthermore, Scrutinizers will play an increasingly significant role for future universities. This in turn is likely to increase the administrative overhead of Institutions as well as their use of intermediaries.
'Note, however, Weick's remark 'Organizing is not necessarily an attempt to attain some specific ... more 'Note, however, Weick's remark 'Organizing is not necessarily an attempt to attain some specific goal. The absence of a goal in the Grook makes it mure, rather than less, like an organhation'.
IN traditional economic theory the firm is assumed to have access to perfect information. Consequ... more IN traditional economic theory the firm is assumed to have access to perfect information. Consequently, firms have been assumed to be able to respond directly to changing conditions in a particular market. As economic theory has developed, this assumption has been challenged and, as a result, an increasing emphasis on the exchange of information has emerged.1 Such an emphasis on exchange of information can also be observed in organizational studies of business firms. Thus, in studies of human and organizational behaviour considerable interest has been devoted to communication within organizations2 and between organizations.3 Among these studies some of those focusing on communication within organizations have employed experimental technique^,^ whereas those directed toward the communication between organizations have surveyed contact patterns. In this study we will focus on the exchange of information between organixations using an experimental technique. The question we are addressing in that context, however, concerns not the communication patterns but the speed of communication between business firms and their environment. Specifically, we will investigate the handling of bidding requests, an activity of prime importance for firms which produce non-standardized products and services. In the following section we will formulate a number of hypotheses concerning the speed of response time. These will be investigated according to the research design described below, and the results of the study are presented in a subsequent section. 1Cf. Hirschleifer, I., 'Where Are We in the Theory of Information?', American Economic
In this Introduction to the special issue, we begin by providing a brief review of the way histor... more In this Introduction to the special issue, we begin by providing a brief review of the way history has been treated in existing work on organizational change, noting that a historical approach has either been non-existent or at best employed in a 'supplementarist' way. We then proceed to summarizing the empirical and theoretical foundations and the core arguments of the articles included in this special issue. In the final section, we conclude by pointing to the main themes that emerge from these articles and the contributions that they make to the literature.
This article is based on a longitudinal study of a Swedish Social Democratic newspaper and examin... more This article is based on a longitudinal study of a Swedish Social Democratic newspaper and examines its `organizational drift' over time in response to changing patterns of resource dependence. The early goals of the newspaper as a means of political communication were subsequently overtaken by such criteria as economic performance and journalistic professionalism. This, in turn, had implications for the organizational and reward structures of the company.
Politiques et gestion de l'enseignement supérieur, Nov 29, 2007
Ce document analyse l’evolution des modeles de gouvernance universitaire due aux exigences accrue... more Ce document analyse l’evolution des modeles de gouvernance universitaire due aux exigences accrues de la societe, mais egalement a une penetration massive de l’ideologie manageriale dans toutes les formes d’institutions. La reflexion proposee utilise a cet effet un cadre theorique axe principalement sur deux mecanismes de gouvernance appliques dans les systemes sociaux, a savoir le controle de l’acces et le controle des performances. Ceux-ci relevent d’un ensemble de facteurs d’homogeneisation plus vaste, que les nouveaux institutionnalistes appellent (1) forces coercitives, (2) forces normatives et (3) forces mimetiques. S’appuyant sur ce cadre theorique pour analyser l’evolution des universites suedoises, l’auteur conclut que leur gouvernance a subi de profondes mutations. Les forces coercitives, autrefois exercees via une gestion budgetaire detaillee, se sont manifestees ces dernieres annees par le biais de la representation au sein des organes de direction et du choix des dirigeants universitaires. Cette transition s’est operee au detriment des forces normatives. Parallelement, les doctrines manageriales modernes sont a l’origine de puissantes forces mimetiques.
This paper seeks to summarize the present state of organization theory. It takes as its starting-... more This paper seeks to summarize the present state of organization theory. It takes as its starting-point the work of early organization theorists and demonstrates that their work has been challenged in basically four different ways, i.e. regarding the view on (a) individuals in organizations, (b) the interaction among individuals in organizations, (c) the relationship between organizations and their environments and (d) the technology of organizations. The implications of these qualifications are discussed with reference to recent literature. These discussions led to the conclusion that the number of research questions have increased rather than decreased over the years. Thus, a unified organizatinn theory may be less valid today than at the beginning of the century. This circumstance, however, it is argued, should not he considered a regression but rather a sign of increasing insilzht.
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Papers by Lars Engwall