This editorial recommends that social science researchers of organizations develop a database from a sample of organizations in the United States. Quality of data has been lacking because of small samples and uncomparable studies. Generalizations about how organizations function can be made if a large database is developed. (CJH)

British Columbia remained committed to its decision to host a world's fair (Expo 86) despite rapidly increasing deficit projections. Expo is examined as a prototypical example of the escalation of commitment. Theory is proposed that integrates determinants of escalation from several levels of analysis over time. (CJH)

A comparative case study analysis of organizational genesis shows three findings: (1) the greater the density of similar organizations, the greater the capacity to generate resources; (2) the greater the density of similar organizations, the greater the legitimacy of resource claims; and (3) the greater the density of similar organizations, the…

An index is presented for estimating structural influences of interdependent subgroups, or parties, that accounts for the parties' indirect dependencies and assigns them weight appropriate to their network position. Indices of overall importance and subgroup importance are illustrated by the influence of 24 journals within five areas of…

Suggests a framework for analysis of a PPB success which can be used for subsequent cross-case comparisons. The framework consists of two major elements: (1) a typology of success variants which is useful in determining degrees of success and (2) a set of causal variables, both technical and behavioral, which can be employed in determining what…

In a population of voluntary social service organizations, research findings show that external legitimacy, more than internal coordination processes, underlies the liability of newness--the higher propensity of younger organizations to die. Lack of institutional support experienced by young organizations is an important reason underlying…

Examines the circumstances surrounding the demise of mass circulation magazines. System Dynamics methodology is applied to modeling a typical large magazine publishing company and the assumptions built into the model are tested by an empirical study of the old "Saturday Evening Post." (Author/IRT)

Data describing jobs in 100 establishments are analyzed to test hypotheses about the characteristics of jobs and organizations associated with the structure of internal promotion ladders. Hypotheses are supported that link job ladders to, for example, organizational structure, gender distinctions, and technology. The formation of promotion ladders…

Analyzes 31 studies of size-performance relationships in organizational structures. Results show that organizational size and productivity are positively related to each other in contrast to review findings to date. Includes extensive references. (MD)

This paper distinguishes between two ecological perspectives on organizational evolution: population ecology, which limits investigation to evolutionary change in established populations, and community ecology, which focuses on the rise and fall of populations themselves as basic units of evolutionary change. These perspectives produce contrasting…

This paper identifies and tracks the strategies pursued by a single-project organization, the National Film Board, across almost four decades of its history. Findings focus on three themes: the emergent nature of the organization's strategies, its cycles of behavior, and the organization's quest for "adhocracy." (TE)