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Strengthening the theoretical perspective on action in routines research with the analytical philosophy of agency

Journal: Journal of Management

Date: 2023

Author: Piotr Tomasz Makowski

Abstract:
This conceptual paper presents the analytical theory of agency (ATA), an overlooked philosophical approach to the concept of action, to develop its theoretical basis in routines research in which the constructs of action and agency play crucial roles. It expounds, in the framework of ATA, the ideas of the spectrum of intentionality, kinds of action, and collective agency, which help advance the rigor of action-theoretical concepts in routines research as well as reveal the rationale of the microfoundational approach to routine actions. To uncover the developmental potential of ATA, the article discusses the most crucial conceptual challenges for routines research; it also briefly examines the limitations and future work related to using ATA in the management field.

Link: Google Scholar

Background and Context

The Research Gap

Organizational routines research lacks robust theoretical frameworks to understand the complex dimensions of action and agency.

Competing Perspectives

Two major theoretical approaches - practice theory and microfoundations - offer different but incomplete views on organizational routines.

New Theoretical Lens

The author introduces Analytical Theory of Agency (ATA) as a novel philosophical approach to strengthen action theorizing in routines research.

ATA Bridges Two Opposing Theoretical Perspectives in Routines Research

Practice Theory Enactment Performance Level-independent Microfoundations Cognition Mental states Level-dependent Analytical Theory of Agency Bridges both perspectives
  • Practice theory emphasizes enactment and performance while rejecting the mentalistic understanding of actions.
  • Microfoundations focus on cognition and mental states through a level-dependent hierarchical understanding of actions.
  • The Analytical Theory of Agency (ATA) bridges these perspectives by providing a comprehensive theory of action.

The Spectrum of Intentionality Reveals Different Levels of Agency Control

Spectrum of Intentionality Automatic Deliberative Habits Skills Plans Increasing intentional control
  • Agency forms a spectrum from automatic, habitual actions to deliberative, planned, and strategic actions.
  • Habitual routines require less intentional control while strategic actions need more deliberation and planning.
  • ATA reveals how different kinds of organizational routines vary in their degree of intentional control.

ATA Identifies Different Kinds of Actions Relevant to Organizational Routines

Kinds of Action Relevant to Routines Deliberative Intentions in action Plans Distal intentions Strategy & planning Nondeliberative Habits Motor skills Automatic performance Organizational practices Collective Shared agency Team agency Corporate agency Group performance Organizational Routines
  • ATA provides a systematic categorization of actions relevant to organizational routines and practices.
  • Deliberative actions include planning and strategic intentions, while nondeliberative actions include habits and motor skills.
  • Collective actions (shared, team, corporate) play a crucial role in understanding organizational routines as collective phenomena.

Collective Agency Requires Different Conditions Based on Organizational Context

Types of Collective Agency in Organizations Small Teams (Bratman) Shared intentions Interlocking sub-plans Mutual responsiveness Interdependence High reflexivity Large Organizations (Shapiro) Shared plans Following procedures Hierarchical authority Possible alienation Limited reflexivity Different organizational contexts require different models of collective intentionality
  • Small teams require shared intentions, mutual responsiveness, and interdependence among team members.
  • Large organizations function through shared plans, procedures, and hierarchical authority structures.
  • ATA reveals that different organizational contexts require different theoretical models of collective intentionality.

Microfoundations of Routines Are Strengthened by ATA's Mechanistic Approach

Micro-Macro Mechanisms in Routine Actions Micro Level (Individual) Intentions Beliefs Plans Macro Level (Collective) Routine Performance Organizational Practice Collective Agency ATA Mechanisms
  • ATA illuminates the micro-level mechanisms (intentions, beliefs, plans) that enable collective routine actions.
  • The microfoundational approach is strengthened by ATA's clear explanation of how individual actions contribute to collective outcomes.
  • This mechanistic understanding helps bridge the gap between individual and organizational levels of analysis.

Contribution and Implications

  • ATA offers precise language for conceptualizing routines as multifaceted actions, benefiting both research and organizational practice.
  • The spectrum of intentionality concept helps explain why some routines are automatic while others require deliberate attention.
  • ATA bridges practice and cognitive perspectives, potentially resolving long-standing theoretical tensions in routines research.
  • Understanding collective agency mechanisms can help organizations design better routines and improve team coordination processes.
  • The philosophical approach to action reveals how new technologies and AI can be integrated into organizational routines.

Data Sources

  • Visualization 1 is based on the author's comparison of practice theory and microfoundations (pages 1746-1750).
  • Visualization 2 illustrates the concept of "spectrum of intentionality" discussed on pages 1752-1754.
  • Visualization 3 is derived from Table 1 in the article (page 1753) showing basic kinds of agency.
  • Visualization 4 draws on the collective agency concepts presented on pages 1754-1756.
  • Visualization 5 represents the micro-macro mechanisms discussion from pages 1760-1762.