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Transaction costs, clans and corporate culture

Alvesson, Mats LU and Lindkvist, Lars (1993) In Journal of Management Studies 30(3). p.427-452
Abstract
For a long time it has been recognized that traditional bureaucratic modes of control are not very efficient in many highly uncertain, rapidly changing or otherwise troublesome situations.

Inspired by transaction cost thinking different authors have suggested that clan form control or certain types of corporate cultures should do better in these circumstances. Among these, Ouchi (1980) and Wilkins and Ouchi (1983) stand clearly in the foreground and the transaction cost related clan developed by these authors is discussed at length in the article.

Further we examine some empirical case studies indicating that other types of mechanisms than suggested by transaction cost reasoning seem to be involved. As a result we propose... (More)
For a long time it has been recognized that traditional bureaucratic modes of control are not very efficient in many highly uncertain, rapidly changing or otherwise troublesome situations.

Inspired by transaction cost thinking different authors have suggested that clan form control or certain types of corporate cultures should do better in these circumstances. Among these, Ouchi (1980) and Wilkins and Ouchi (1983) stand clearly in the foreground and the transaction cost related clan developed by these authors is discussed at length in the article.

Further we examine some empirical case studies indicating that other types of mechanisms than suggested by transaction cost reasoning seem to be involved. As a result we propose an extension of the clan concept to include three different kinds of clans: (1) the Economic-co-operative Clan, (2) the Social-integrative Clan, and (3) the Blood-kinship Clan.

Next we discuss how clans or local cultures become established, including the possibilities for management to develop these kinds of patterns intentionally. Finally we set up some tentative hypotheses concerning the significance of‘economic’and ‘social’types of clans in ambiguous situations and the limits of the ideas of the transaction cost approach in explaining complex exchange issues in organizations. (Less)
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author
and
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Journal of Management Studies
volume
30
issue
3
pages
427 - 452
publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
external identifiers
  • scopus:21144474031
ISSN
1467-6486
DOI
10.1111/j.1467-6486.1993.tb00312.x
language
English
LU publication?
no
id
f1a9bea0-0191-4f3c-9112-f99572307220
date added to LUP
2016-06-29 09:32:55
date last changed
2021-06-06 04:33:24
@article{f1a9bea0-0191-4f3c-9112-f99572307220,
  abstract     = {{For a long time it has been recognized that traditional bureaucratic modes of control are not very efficient in many highly uncertain, rapidly changing or otherwise troublesome situations.<br/><br/>Inspired by transaction cost thinking different authors have suggested that clan form control or certain types of corporate cultures should do better in these circumstances. Among these, Ouchi (1980) and Wilkins and Ouchi (1983) stand clearly in the foreground and the transaction cost related clan developed by these authors is discussed at length in the article.<br/><br/>Further we examine some empirical case studies indicating that other types of mechanisms than suggested by transaction cost reasoning seem to be involved. As a result we propose an extension of the clan concept to include three different kinds of clans: (1) the Economic-co-operative Clan, (2) the Social-integrative Clan, and (3) the Blood-kinship Clan.<br/><br/>Next we discuss how clans or local cultures become established, including the possibilities for management to develop these kinds of patterns intentionally. Finally we set up some tentative hypotheses concerning the significance of‘economic’and ‘social’types of clans in ambiguous situations and the limits of the ideas of the transaction cost approach in explaining complex exchange issues in organizations.}},
  author       = {{Alvesson, Mats and Lindkvist, Lars}},
  issn         = {{1467-6486}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{3}},
  pages        = {{427--452}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
  series       = {{Journal of Management Studies}},
  title        = {{Transaction costs, clans and corporate culture}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-6486.1993.tb00312.x}},
  doi          = {{10.1111/j.1467-6486.1993.tb00312.x}},
  volume       = {{30}},
  year         = {{1993}},
}