Adapting to Environmental Jolts

Administrative Science Quarterly, Vol. 27, pp. 515-537, 1982

23 Pages Posted: 25 Jan 2016

See all articles by Alan D. Meyer

Alan D. Meyer

University of Oregon - Department of Management

Date Written: January 1, 1982

Abstract

This paper examines organizational adaptations to an environmental jolt -- a sudden and unprecedented event (in this case, a doctors' strike) that created a natural experiment within a group of hospitals. Although adaptations were diverse and appeared anomalous, they are elucidated by considering the hospitals' antecedent strategies, structures, ideologies, and stockpiles of slack resources. Assessments of the primacy of the antecedents suggest that ideological and strategic variables are better predictors of adaptations to jolts than are structural variables or measures of organizational slack. Although abrupt changes in environments are commonly thought to jeopardize organizations, environmental jolts are found to be ambiguous events that offer propitious opportunities for organizational learning, administrative drama, and introducing unrelated changes.

Suggested Citation

Meyer, Alan, Adapting to Environmental Jolts (January 1, 1982). Administrative Science Quarterly, Vol. 27, pp. 515-537, 1982, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2720544

Alan Meyer (Contact Author)

University of Oregon - Department of Management ( email )

Eugene, OR 97403-1208
United States

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