Abstract

This study examined three types of adaptation to technological cycles: changes in strategic posture, reorganization, and top executive team stability. We were unable to classify firms by "strategic type" and this may not be a worthwhile exercise. There is no general tendency for specialists to out-perform generalists or vice-versa, but long-term and short-term performance were found to be at odds with one another. Inertia--never making strategic or structural changes--is a low-performing approach in any environment. Logical incrementalism is appropriate during periods of incremental change while reorganization is appropriate during eras of ferment. Major changes in executive team demography are associated with CEO succession, organizational reorientation, and technological discontinuities, suggesting the existence of several organizational "clocks".


Click on the link below for the final report in pdf.
anderson_tushman_0990.pdf