Reducing Uncertainty
A Formal Theory ofOrganizations in Action
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 2192609 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Jaap Kamps (0000-0002-6614-0087, University of Amsterdam), László Pólos (University of Amsterdam) |
| Year | 1999 |
| Volume | 104 |
| Issue | 6 |
| Pages | 1776-1812 |
| Publication date | 1999-05-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | American Journal of Sociology (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0002-9602 • E-ISSN: 1537-5390 |
| Publisher | University of Chicago Press (PUBLISHER • US) |
| DOI | 10.1086/210223 |
| OpenAlex | W2009543802 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 9 |
| References cited | 29 |
This article presents a formal reconstruction of James D. Thompson's classic contribution to organization theory, Organizations in Action. The reconstruction explicates the underlying argumentation structure for Thompson's propositions‐‐literally, theorems or problems to be demonstrated. This allows Thompson's propositions to be derived as theorems in a deductive theory. As it turns out, the formal theory is based on general assumptions using only few primitive concepts. In addition, this theory explains why Thompson's propositions do not hold for noncomplex or “atomic” organizations (a restriction on the domain of application). Furthermore, this study reveals that organizations attempt to reduce constraints in their en‐vironment‐‐a heretofore unknown implication of the theory
Action (physics) · Action theory (sociology) · Argumentation theory · Domain (mathematical analysis) · Epistemology · Mathematical economics · Sociology · Theory · Business Strategy and Innovation · Complex Systems and Decision Making · Computer Science · Management and Organizational Studies · Mathematics · Philosophy
Central Analytical Issues in the Generation of Cumulative Sociological Knowledge
Modalities in Sociological Arguments
A Logical Toolkit for Theory (Re) Construction
The Logic of Role Theory
The Cricket and the Ant
Globalization and variants of local adaptation
Frames, organisations, and practices as social components of energy
The Ecuadorian Army
Back to Inertia
Organizations
Research in Organizational Behavior
The New Institutionalism in Organizational Analysis
Structure and Process in Modern Societies
Organizations in Action
The Logic of Scientific Discovery
The Structuring of Organizations
Social structure and organizations
Niche width theory reappraised
The Niche Hiker's Guide to Population Ecology
The Two Faces of Governance
Exploring the Limits of the New Institutionalism
The Liability of Newness
Structural Inertia and Organizational Change
Survival Chances of Newly Founded Business Organizations
Small is Bountiful
A Logical Approach to Formalizing Organizational Ecology
The Legalization of the Workplace
Legal Ambiguity and Symbolic Structures
The Population Ecology of Organizations
Rethinking Age Dependence in Organizational Mortality
| Unique citing works | 9 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 0,35 |
| Citation span | 2000 - 2016 (17) |
| Citation velocity | historical |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 8 |