Thesis (MComm)--Stellenbosch University, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In light of the rising recognition that strategic management, especially in uncertain fastchanging
environments, needs to be robust beyond time and space, this study has the
objective to re-conceptualize the term "organizational fitness". Due to the preliminary and
isolated nature of existing organizational fitness models, the decision was made to
incorporate the considerable knowledge base of "dynamic capabilities" and "complexity
thinking". The critical criteria for choosing these strategic management approaches were
seen in their appreciation of change as a natural principle of life within the larger context of
this currently fast evolving world. The study aims at establishing a sound understanding of
the reference point, i.e. organizational fitness, as well as its hypothetical conceptual
means, i.e. dynamic capabilities and complexity thinking. Furthermore, the relational
aspects of these concepts were elaborated and converged into a synthesis of what could
emerge to become a comprehensive and persistent approach towards organizational
fitness and strategic management per se.
In respect to the complexity of the chosen concepts, a sequential method of incorporation
was adopted. In reviewing and analyzing existing literature on organizational fitness, a
possible definition and a general anatomy for organizational fitness could be established.
Subsequently, the components and rationale of dynamic capabilities were critically
delineated. The insights derived were then inserted in a preliminary fitness model.
Hereafter, complexity thinking was investigated and related to the dynamic capabilities
framework. Motivated by the complementary nature of these concepts, two emerging
techniques of complexity thinking were delineated, viz. the co-evolutionary space and
fitness landscapes, with the aim of deepening as well as extending the earlier preliminary
concept.
This logical yet theoretical and normature study presents clear pointers concerning
strategic enterprise robustness with which organizational fitness could be approached in
the specific realm of this conceptual frame. In respect of its hypothetical and preliminary
nature, the conclusions reached should be seen in their proper perspective. Moreover,
further basic and applied research is seen as crucial to substantiate the conclusions and
recommendations of this study. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In lig van die toenemende besef dat strategiese bestuur, veral in toestande van vinnige
verandering, dinamies en robuust moet wees onbegrens deur die konsepte van tyd en
spasie, het hierdie studie die doelstelling om die begrip van organisatoriese fiksheid te
herkonseptualiseer. Op grond van die voorlopige en geïsoleerde aard van huidige
organisatoriese fiksheidsmodelle, is besluit om die nuwer strategiese bestuursbenaderinge
van 'dinamiese vermoëns' en 'kompleksiteitsdenke' in die omvang van die studie te
inkorporeer.
Die kriteria vir die keuse van insluiting van die voorgenoemde strategiese benaderinge was
hul toenemende potensiaal as onderliggende teorieë vir die verduideliking van verandering
in die konteks van die toenemend snelle veranderende wereld. Die studie beoog om 'n
deeglik-gefundeerde basis en vertrekpunt daar te stel, d.w.s. dinamiese vermoëns beskou
as deel van kompleksiteitsdenke. Die interaktiewe en verhoudingsaspekte van die twee
konsepte is intensief ontleed en 'n konvergensie is nagestreef ten einde 'n sintese van
benadering daar te stel, wat die konsep van organisatoriese fiksheid en gepaardgaande
strategiese bestuursimplikasies aandui.
In die uitvoering van die ondersoek van kompleksiteitsteorie is 'n sekwensiële wyse van
ondersoek gekies. Omvattende ontleding van bestaande internasionale literatuur het 'n
voorlopige definisie en anatomiese dimensies van die konsep van organisatoriese fiksheid
opgelewer. Daarna is die komponente en rasionaal van dinamiese vermoëns krities
ontleed. Die resulterende insigte is voorts in die konsep van organisatoriese fiksheid
geïnkorporeer. 'n Verdere stap was ontleding en relevansie-passing van
kompleksiteitsdenke in verband tot dinamiese vermoëns. Twee ontluikende tegnieke van
kompleksiteitsdenke is afgebaken, naamlik ko-evoluerende spasie en fiksheidslandskappe,
met die doeI om die voorlopige konsep van organisatoriese fiksheid te verdiep en te
verbreed.
Hierdie logiese, teoretiese en normatiewe studie voorsien duidelike aanduidinge t.o.v.
strategiese ondernemings-robuustheid, waarmee die konsep van organisatoriese fiksheid
toepaslik benader kan word. In die lig van die hipotetiese en voorlopige aard van die studie, moet die gevolgtrekkings van die studie in sy begrensde konteks beskou word.
Verder basiese en toegepaste navorsing word as noodsaaklik geag ten einde die
gevolgtrekkings en aanbevelings van die studie te substansieer.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/52628 |
| Date | 12 1900 |
| Creators | Schick, Verena |
| Contributors | Leibold, M., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic & Management Sciences . Dept. of Business Management. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 132 p. |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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