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The concept of routines: some clarifications
* CNRS/BETA
Address for correspondence: Centre National de Recherche Scientifique, Bureau d'Economie Théorique et Appliquée, l ave. de la Forèt Noire, 67085 Strasbourg, France; email: M.Becker.97{at}cantab.net
The concept of an ‘organisational routine’ is central to the evolutionary theory of the firm. However, the concept itself is still unclear. There is not much consensus in the literature regarding its dimensions, its characteristics and its functions. Despite increasing use of the concept, not much conceptual progress has been made in recent years, as remarked by several of the leading writers on the topic. The objective of this paper is to contribute to further theoretical development of the concept of ‘organisational routine’, and to elaborate the research agenda on organisational routines. Both of these measures contribute to clarifying the concept and enabling its application in empirical research in the social sciences, thereby unlocking its potential for understanding organisations and organisational change. Several problems for conceptual progress are identified. Implications for the conceptualisation of ‘organisational routines’, and for the research agenda on organisational routines are drawn.
Key Words: Routines • Rules • Recurrent action patterns • Heuristics
JEL classifications: D21, L20, M10, M19
Manuscript received November 5, 1999; final version received July 7, 2003.