The Nature Of The New Firm

‘The emerging knowledge economy is prompting decisive changes in the organization of business firms. Corporate hierarchies flatten under the impact of ICT and the need to delegate decision rights. The boundaries of the firm shrink under the impact of outsourcing and viable relational contracting. However, we still know very little about the mechanics and manifestations of this process. Killian McCarthy, Maya Fiolet, and Wilfred Dolfsma’s The Nature of the New Firm breaks new ground in our understanding of changing economic organization. It will appeal not only to theorists of the firm, but also to management scholars and sociologists interested in organization.’
– Nicolai J. Foss, Copenhagen Business School, Denmark

The Nature of the New Firm presents a number of studies on the blurring of boundaries within and between organizations and institutions.

Globalization has created new ways of doing business, new institutions to oversee them, and has introduced a spectrum of new protagonists to the international arena. Scholars and practitioners have been challenged by the evolving environment to find new ways to interact and, in the process, many of the traditional boundaries that have existed within and between organizations and institutions have become increasingly blurred. This unique compendium sheds light on these and other topics on the question of change, both within and between organizations and institutions. The contributors have expertly combined the insights of some of the biggest names in the fields of economics, business and strategic management, both present and future – and in doing so offer scholars a tailor-made, up-to-date study on the topic of economic change.

This book will prove to be a compelling read for students, scholars and policymakers of international business, industrial organization and strategy.

Contents:

Introduction
Killian J. McCarthy, Maya Fiolet and Wilfred Dolfsma

PART I: WITHIN THE FIRM
Introduction to Part I: Organization Theorists Struggling with a View of Humankind – Power, Ethics and Top Management Teams
Sjoerd Beugelsdijk

1. Power, and the Destruction of Value in Mergers and Acquisitions
Claire E. Ashton-James, Killian J. McCarthy and Anca Dranca-Iacoban

2. Reinforcing Ethical Behavior through Organizational Architecture: A Hypothesized Relationship
Raymond O.S. Zaal

3. Industry Differences in Strategic Decision Making of Dutch Top Management Teams
Alexander S. Alexiev, Justin J.P. Jansen, Frans A.J. Van den Bosch and Henk W. Volberda

PART II: BETWEEN FIRMS
Introduction to Part II: New Firms Interacting
Wilfred Dolfsma and Geert Duysters

4. The Multifaceted Effects of Institutions on Firm Strategies and Entrepreneurial Actions
Michael A. Hitt and Tiago Ratinho

5. Profiting from Digitally Distributed Cultural Products: The Case of Content Producers in the Video Games Industry
G.J. (Joost) Rietveld

6. Serial Acquirers’ Reconfiguration Capability: Moving Beyond Existing Knowledge Boundaries
Nima Amiryany, Marleen Huysman, Ard-Pieter de Man and Myriam Cloodt

7. When Firms do not Benefit from Collaborative Experience: Differences in the Intensity and Nature of Interorganizational Relationships
Astrid A. ter Wiel and Paul W.L. Vlaar

PART III: BETWEEN FIRMS AND SOCIETY
Introduction to Part III: Exploring the Logic of Organizational Boundaries
Peter Groenewegen

8. The Impact of Works Councils on Productivity in Times of Reorganization
Saraï Sapulete, Arjen van Witteloostuijn, Annette van den Berg and Yolanda Grift

9. Corporate Entrepreneurship in the Non-profit Sector: Recombining Resources to Create Social Value
Maya Fiolet

10. Social and Nonprofit Marketing: Issues and Opportunities in Marketing Beyond Business
Charles B. Weinberg and Hsin-Hsuan Meg Lee

Index

http://www.rug.nl/staff/k.j.mccarthy