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<meta content="Purpose of the paper: The paper advocates a Darwinian explanation of the process of firm transformation. Existing, but generally opposing views related to the selection-adaptation debates are united to consider the dialogic nature of both approaches. It is argued that a Darwinian approach, as opposed to a neo-Darwinian or Lamarckian approach provides the means to scale the sides of a debate that has for too long divided scholars interested in firm and industry transformation.
Approach: The paper addresses three specific issues to develop its Darwinian argument. Firstly, the various work of Geoff Hodgson that have for many years advanced Darwin's evolutionary ideas are used to argue the nature and application of Darwinism in the socio-economic domain. Secondly, the nature of what constitutes the elements of firm-environment interaction is considered to establish basic areas of focus through which the process of firm transformation is more understandable. Lastly, the construct absorptive capacity is likened to a mechanism of transmission through which the learning processes associated with the acquisition of favoured variations can be reconciled with the generic evolutionary processes of variation, selection, and retention.
Findings: To understand the process of firm learning, the role of habits and routines must be outlined in specific detail. They cannot be assumed to perform interacting and replicating roles simultaneously. To do so, undermines the fundamental qualities of an evolutionary theory.
What is the original/value of paper: The preliminary framework advanced takes us beyond the Darwinian - Lamarckian debate and provides elements of focus from which a greater understanding of the process of firm/industry transformation is possible.
" name="eprints.abstract" />
<meta content="2005-01" name="eprints.date" />
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<meta content="Management Decision" name="eprints.publication" />
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<meta content="Aldrich, H.E. (1999), Organizations Evolving, Sage Publications, London.
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Cohen, W.M. and Levinthal, D.A. (1990) "Absorptive capacity: A new perspective on learning and innovation", Administrative Science Quarterly, Vol 35 March.
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Goffman, E. (1959), The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life, Doubleday, Garden City, NY.
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Hodgson, G.M. (2003a) "The mystery of the routine: The Darwinian destiny of an evolutionary theory of economic change", Revue Economique, Vol 54 No 2.
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Wilkins. J.S. (2001), "The appearance of Lamarckism in the evolution of culture", in Nightingale, J. and Laurent, J. (Eds.), Darwinism and Evolutionary Economics, Edward Elgar, Cheltenham.
Zahra, S.A. and George, G. (2002) "Absorptive capacity: A review, reconceptualization, and extension", Academy of Management Review, Vol 27 No 2.
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Approach: The paper addresses three specific issues to develop its Darwinian argument. Firstly, the various work of Geoff Hodgson that have for many years advanced Darwin's evolutionary ideas are used to argue the nature and application of Darwinism in the socio-economic domain. Secondly, the nature of what constitutes the elements of firm-environment interaction is considered to establish basic areas of focus through which the process of firm transformation is more understandable. Lastly, the construct absorptive capacity is likened to a mechanism of transmission through which the learning processes associated with the acquisition of favoured variations can be reconciled with the generic evolutionary processes of variation, selection, and retention.
Findings: To understand the process of firm learning, the role of habits and routines must be outlined in specific detail. They cannot be assumed to perform interacting and replicating roles simultaneously. To do so, undermines the fundamental qualities of an evolutionary theory.
What is the original/value of paper: The preliminary framework advanced takes us beyond the Darwinian - Lamarckian debate and provides elements of focus from which a greater understanding of the process of firm/industry transformation is possible.
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<h1 class="ep_tm_pagetitle">Firm Transformation: Advancing a Darwinian Perspective</h1>
<p style="margin-bottom: 1em" class="not_ep_block"><span class="person_name">Jones, Colin D.</span> (2005) <xhtml:em>Firm Transformation: Advancing a Darwinian Perspective.</xhtml:em> Management Decision, 43 (1). pp. 13-25. ISSN 0025-1747</p><p style="margin-bottom: 1em" class="not_ep_block"></p><table style="margin-bottom: 1em" class="not_ep_block"><tr><td valign="top" style="text-align:center"><a href="http://eprints.utas.edu.au/832/1/Firm_Transformation.pdf"><img alt="[img]" src="http://eprints.utas.edu.au/style/images/fileicons/application_pdf.png" class="ep_doc_icon" border="0" /></a></td><td valign="top"><a href="http://eprints.utas.edu.au/832/1/Firm_Transformation.pdf"><span class="ep_document_citation">PDF</span></a> - Full text restricted - Requires a PDF viewer<br />127Kb</td></tr><tr><td valign="top" style="text-align:center"><a onmouseover="EPJS_ShowPreview( event, 'doc_preview_837' );" href="http://eprints.utas.edu.au/832/2/firm-p13.pdf" onmouseout="EPJS_HidePreview( event, 'doc_preview_837' );"><img alt="[img]" src="http://eprints.utas.edu.au/style/images/fileicons/application_pdf.png" class="ep_doc_icon" border="0" /></a><div class="ep_preview" id="doc_preview_837"><table><tr><td><img alt="" src="http://eprints.utas.edu.au/832/thumbnails/2/preview.png" class="ep_preview_image" border="0" /><div class="ep_preview_title">Preview</div></td></tr></table></div></td><td valign="top"><a href="http://eprints.utas.edu.au/832/2/firm-p13.pdf"><span class="ep_document_citation">PDF (Author version)</span></a> - Requires a PDF viewer<br />56Kb</td></tr></table><p style="margin-bottom: 1em" class="not_ep_block">Official URL: <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/00251740510572452">http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/00251740510572452</a></p><div class="not_ep_block"><h2>Abstract</h2><p style="padding-bottom: 16px; text-align: left; margin: 1em auto 0em auto">Purpose of the paper: The paper advocates a Darwinian explanation of the process of firm transformation. Existing, but generally opposing views related to the selection-adaptation debates are united to consider the dialogic nature of both approaches. It is argued that a Darwinian approach, as opposed to a neo-Darwinian or Lamarckian approach provides the means to scale the sides of a debate that has for too long divided scholars interested in firm and industry transformation.
Approach: The paper addresses three specific issues to develop its Darwinian argument. Firstly, the various work of Geoff Hodgson that have for many years advanced Darwin's evolutionary ideas are used to argue the nature and application of Darwinism in the socio-economic domain. Secondly, the nature of what constitutes the elements of firm-environment interaction is considered to establish basic areas of focus through which the process of firm transformation is more understandable. Lastly, the construct absorptive capacity is likened to a mechanism of transmission through which the learning processes associated with the acquisition of favoured variations can be reconciled with the generic evolutionary processes of variation, selection, and retention.
Findings: To understand the process of firm learning, the role of habits and routines must be outlined in specific detail. They cannot be assumed to perform interacting and replicating roles simultaneously. To do so, undermines the fundamental qualities of an evolutionary theory.
What is the original/value of paper: The preliminary framework advanced takes us beyond the Darwinian - Lamarckian debate and provides elements of focus from which a greater understanding of the process of firm/industry transformation is possible.
</p></div><table style="margin-bottom: 1em" cellpadding="3" class="not_ep_block" border="0"><tr><th valign="top" class="ep_row">Item Type:</th><td valign="top" class="ep_row">Article</td></tr><tr><th valign="top" class="ep_row">Additional Information:</th><td valign="top" class="ep_row">Copyright 2005 Emerald Group. Reproduced in accordance with the publishers policy. The definitive published version is available online at: http://www.emeraldinsight.com/info/journals/md/md.jsp</td></tr><tr><th valign="top" class="ep_row">Keywords:</th><td valign="top" class="ep_row">Firm Transformation, Darwinism, Lamarckism, and Absorptive Capacity</td></tr><tr><th valign="top" class="ep_row">Subjects:</th><td valign="top" class="ep_row"><a href="http://eprints.utas.edu.au/view/subjects/350208.html">350000 Commerce, Management, Tourism and Services > 350200 Business and Management > 350208 Organisational Planning and Management</a><br /><a href="http://eprints.utas.edu.au/view/subjects/350209.html">350000 Commerce, Management, Tourism and Services > 350200 Business and Management > 350209 Small Business Management</a><br /><a href="http://eprints.utas.edu.au/view/subjects/340199.html">340000 Economics > 340100 Economic Theory > 340199 Economic Theory not elsewhere classified</a><br /><a href="http://eprints.utas.edu.au/view/subjects/350299.html">350000 Commerce, Management, Tourism and Services > 350200 Business and Management > 350299 Business and Management not elsewhere classified</a></td></tr><tr><th valign="top" class="ep_row">ID Code:</th><td valign="top" class="ep_row">832</td></tr><tr><th valign="top" class="ep_row">Deposited By:</th><td valign="top" class="ep_row"><span class="ep_name_citation"><span class="person_name">Mr Colin D Jones</span></span></td></tr><tr><th valign="top" class="ep_row">Deposited On:</th><td valign="top" class="ep_row">15 Mar 2007</td></tr><tr><th valign="top" class="ep_row">Last Modified:</th><td valign="top" class="ep_row">09 Jan 2008 02:30</td></tr><tr><th valign="top" class="ep_row">ePrint Statistics:</th><td valign="top" class="ep_row"><a target="ePrintStats" href="/es/index.php?action=show_detail_eprint;id=832;">View statistics for this ePrint</a></td></tr></table><p align="right">Repository Staff Only: <a href="http://eprints.utas.edu.au/cgi/users/home?screen=EPrint::View&eprintid=832">item control page</a></p>
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