How the Organizational Ecology Approach Can Enrich Business Research on Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises – Three Areas for Future Research

Schmalenbach Business Review, Vol. 61, pp. 250-269, July 2009

20 Pages Posted: 30 Nov 2009

See all articles by Simon Oertel

Simon Oertel

Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena

Peter Walgenbach

University of Erfurt

Date Written: July 1, 2009

Abstract

Following the basic paradigms of the organizational ecology approach, we propose three fields for further research that have relevance for business administration and management. (1) We argue that to better understand organizational life cycles, it is important to analyze the influence of fundamental change in the governance structure of an organization on its survival chances. (2) We propose to investigate the effect of organizations’ population density and the effect of interdependencies between the density and the size of organizations on the life expectancy of newly founded organizations in more detail in order to better understand organizational life cycles. (3) Based on the strong effect legitimacy has on the survival chances of organizations, we propose to focus on how different degrees of legitimacy influence organizational survival chances.

Keywords: Business Research, Density Dependence, Legitimacy, Organizational Change, Organizational Ecology

JEL Classification: B52, L26, M13

Suggested Citation

Oertel, Simon and Walgenbach, Peter, How the Organizational Ecology Approach Can Enrich Business Research on Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises – Three Areas for Future Research (July 1, 2009). Schmalenbach Business Review, Vol. 61, pp. 250-269, July 2009, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1514408

Simon Oertel (Contact Author)

Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena ( email )

Furstengraben 1
Jena, Thuringa 07743
Germany

Peter Walgenbach

University of Erfurt ( email )

Internationales Buro
Nordhaeuser Str. 63
D - 99089 Erfurt
Germany