Stage 4a: Exploring Success-Generating Routines

Abstract

The study conducted at Alpha revealed that tacit routines can be researched in the field using causal mapping, and that managers perceived that they could be a component of their firm’s success. The study also showed that routines that lie outside direct management knowledge and control, whether tacit or not, may matter a great deal for the organisation (the passively managed and unmanaged routines discussed in the previous chapter). This particular finding is interesting from both an academic and a managerial perspective. From the managerial viewpoint, it shows how vital it is for top managers to understand fully how their organisation works if they are to sustain its success, as factors beyond their immediate concern can be of prime importance. From an academic perspective, it reveals that there is a need for a better understanding of the different types of routine that take place in organisations.