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Outsourcing of Organizational Routines : Knowledge, control, and learning aspects

Kjellström, Elisabeth LU (2019) In Lund Studies in Economics and Management
Abstract
Organizational routines that are critical to learning, flexibility, and adaptation explain the behaviour of the business organization. When organizational routines cross the boundary of the organization, variability and stability are affected. This study emphasizes organizational routines committed in specific outsourcing or insourcing situations to clarify the dynamics of organizational routines that are cut off and put out of context.

The theoretical analysis of organizational routines shows how three aspects of knowledge, control, and learning that are challenged by outsourcing or insourcing are able to explicate loss of organizational memory, loss of accountability, or loss of predictability over the business process. When... (More)
Organizational routines that are critical to learning, flexibility, and adaptation explain the behaviour of the business organization. When organizational routines cross the boundary of the organization, variability and stability are affected. This study emphasizes organizational routines committed in specific outsourcing or insourcing situations to clarify the dynamics of organizational routines that are cut off and put out of context.

The theoretical analysis of organizational routines shows how three aspects of knowledge, control, and learning that are challenged by outsourcing or insourcing are able to explicate loss of organizational memory, loss of accountability, or loss of predictability over the business process. When organizational routines of an outsourced function are surgically removed, the organization is left with direct and indirect so called ‘phantom limbs pain’ that diminishes the effectiveness of the remaining activity system. Routines that are no longer in use result in reduced control and a weakened organizational memory, no longer updated for learning.

Earlier research has shown the complexity of organizational routines. The interpretation of social phenomena is never a straightforward activity. The multifaceted patterns of the phenomenon of organizational routines are difficult to study, directly observe, and therefore well suited for a hermeneutical approach.

The analysis emphasizes organizational boundaries and in particular control and accountability at lower organizational levels to present a new understanding of boundary management and the role of local knowledge as a link between internal and external systems in outsourcing processes. Knowledge does not necessarily erode when routines are outsourced if knowledgeable employees intervene and can regain knowledge. Concepts like tacit knowing, trading zone, and path dependency show how transfer of knowledge is possible when boundary spanning is organized in communities of practice.

Three different conventional industry cases illustrate the theoretical analysis of how boundaries of time and space are challenged and broken down both within and between organizations. The study has resulted in contributions to the
different theoretical areas of organizational routines, knowledge management, control, organizational learning, and boundary management as well as some practical managerial advices. (Less)
Abstract (Swedish)
Abstract
Organizational routines that are critical to learning, flexibility, and adaptation explain the behavior of the business organization. When organizational routines cross the boundary of the organization, variability and stability are affected. This study emphasizes organizational routines committed in specific outsourcing or insourcing situations to clarify the dynamics of organizational routines that are cut off and put out of context.
The theoretical analysis of organizational routines shows how three aspects of knowledge, control, and learning that are challenged by outsourcing or insourcing are able to explicate loss of organizational memory, loss of accountability, or loss of predictability over the business process.... (More)
Abstract
Organizational routines that are critical to learning, flexibility, and adaptation explain the behavior of the business organization. When organizational routines cross the boundary of the organization, variability and stability are affected. This study emphasizes organizational routines committed in specific outsourcing or insourcing situations to clarify the dynamics of organizational routines that are cut off and put out of context.
The theoretical analysis of organizational routines shows how three aspects of knowledge, control, and learning that are challenged by outsourcing or insourcing are able to explicate loss of organizational memory, loss of accountability, or loss of predictability over the business process. When organizational routines of an outsourced function are surgically removed, the organization is left with direct and indirect so called ‘phantom limbs pain’ that diminishes the effectiveness of the remaining activity system. Routines that are no longer in use result in reduced control and a weakened organizational memory, no longer updated for learning.
Earlier research has shown the complexity of organizational routines. The interpretation of social phenomena is never a straightforward activity. The multifaceted patterns of the phenomenon of organizational routines are difficult to study, directly observe, and therefore well suited for a hermeneutical approach.
The analysis emphasizes organizational boundaries and in particular control and accountability at lower organizational levels to present a new understanding of boundary management and the role of local knowledge as a link between internal and external systems in outsourcing processes. Knowledge does not necessarily erode when routines are outsourced if knowledgeable employees intervene and can regain knowledge. Concepts like tacit knowing, trading zone, and path dependency show how transfer of knowledge is possible when boundary spanning is organized in communities of practice.
Three different conventional industry cases illustrate the theoretical analysis of how boundaries of time and space are challenged and broken down both within and between organizations. The study has resulted in contributions to the different theoretical areas of organizational routines, knowledge management, control, organizational learning, and boundary management as well as some practical managerial advices.
(Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
supervisor
opponent
  • Professor Skoog, Matti, Åbo Academi University
organization
publishing date
type
Thesis
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Organizational routine, knowledge, tacit knowing, control, learning, outsourcing, Organizational routines, knowledge, tacit knowing, control, learning, outsourcing
in
Lund Studies in Economics and Management
issue
143
pages
263 pages
publisher
Lund
defense location
Holger Crafoord Centre EC2:101
defense date
2019-04-12 13:15:00
ISSN
1652-8220
ISBN
978-91-7895-014-0
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
This theoretical study analyzes the consequences of outsourcing and insourcing when organizational routines cross the boundaries of the business organization.
id
8e8b781a-f2e7-48ae-b03a-4944f4e4e30b
date added to LUP
2019-03-17 15:10:07
date last changed
2020-04-24 08:16:41
@phdthesis{8e8b781a-f2e7-48ae-b03a-4944f4e4e30b,
  abstract     = {{Organizational routines that are critical to learning, flexibility, and adaptation explain the behaviour of the business organization. When organizational routines cross the boundary of the organization, variability and stability are affected. This study emphasizes organizational routines committed in specific outsourcing or insourcing situations to clarify the dynamics of organizational routines that are cut off and put out of context.<br/><br/>The theoretical analysis of organizational routines shows how three aspects of knowledge, control, and learning that are challenged by outsourcing or insourcing are able to explicate loss of organizational memory, loss of accountability, or loss of predictability over the business process. When organizational routines of an outsourced function are surgically removed, the organization is left with direct and indirect so called ‘phantom limbs pain’ that diminishes the effectiveness of the remaining activity system. Routines that are no longer in use result in reduced control and a weakened organizational memory, no longer updated for learning.<br/><br/>Earlier research has shown the complexity of organizational routines. The interpretation of social phenomena is never a straightforward activity. The multifaceted patterns of the phenomenon of organizational routines are difficult to study, directly observe, and therefore well suited for a hermeneutical approach.<br/><br/>The analysis emphasizes organizational boundaries and in particular control and accountability at lower organizational levels to present a new understanding of boundary management and the role of local knowledge as a link between internal and external systems in outsourcing processes. Knowledge does not necessarily erode when routines are outsourced if knowledgeable employees intervene and can regain knowledge. Concepts like tacit knowing, trading zone, and path dependency show how transfer of knowledge is possible when boundary spanning is organized in communities of practice.<br/><br/>Three different conventional industry cases illustrate the theoretical analysis of how boundaries of time and space are challenged and broken down both within and between organizations. The study has resulted in contributions to the<br/>different theoretical areas of organizational routines, knowledge management, control, organizational learning, and boundary management as well as some practical managerial advices.}},
  author       = {{Kjellström, Elisabeth}},
  isbn         = {{978-91-7895-014-0}},
  issn         = {{1652-8220}},
  keywords     = {{Organizational routine, knowledge, tacit knowing, control, learning, outsourcing; Organizational routines; knowledge; tacit knowing; control; learning; outsourcing}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{02}},
  number       = {{143}},
  publisher    = {{Lund}},
  school       = {{Lund University}},
  series       = {{Lund Studies in Economics and Management}},
  title        = {{Outsourcing of Organizational Routines : Knowledge, control, and learning aspects}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/61871479/e_spik_Elisabeth_Kjellstr_m.pdf}},
  year         = {{2019}},
}