Problematizing fit and survival: transforming the law of requisite variety through complexity misalignment

Poulis, Konstantinos ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3355-9543 and Poulis, Efthimios ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6820-1499 (2016) Problematizing fit and survival: transforming the law of requisite variety through complexity misalignment. Academy of Management Review, 41 (3) . pp. 503-527. ISSN 0363-7425 [Article] (doi:10.5465/amr.2014.0073)

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Official URL: https://doi.org/10.5465/amr.2014.0073

Abstract

The law of requisite variety is widely employed in management theorizing and is linked with core strategy themes such as contingency and fit. We reflect upon requisite variety as an archetypal borrowed concept. We contrast its premises with insights from the institutional literature and commitment literature, draw propositions that set boundaries to its applicability, and review the ramifications of what we call “complexity misalignment.” In this way we contradict foundational assumptions of the law, problematize adaptation- and survival-centric views of strategizing, and theorize the role of human agency in variously complex regimes.

Item Type:	Article
Research Areas:	A. > Business School
Item ID:	27699
Useful Links:	Publication Publisher Publisher's T&Cs Publisher's T&Cs Middlesex University Expert Profile Middlesex University Expert Profile
Depositing User:	Konstantinos Poulis
Date Deposited:	30 Sep 2019 12:36
Last Modified:	29 Nov 2022 21:46
URI:	https://eprints.mdx.ac.uk/id/eprint/27699

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