A critical analysis of the role and nature of dynamic capabilities to enable and sustain organizational fitness, incorporating complexity thinking

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT:In light of the rising recognition that strategic management, especially in uncertain fastchangingenvironments, needs to be robust beyond time and space, this study has theobjective to re-conceptualize the term organizational fitness. Due to the preliminary andisolated nature of existing organizational fitness models, the decision was made toincorporate the considerable knowledge base of dynamic capabilities and complexitythinking. The critical criteria for choosing these strategic management approaches wereseen in their appreciation of change as a natural principle of life within the larger context ofthis currently fast evolving world. The study aims at establishing a sound understanding ofthe reference point, i.e. organizational fitness, as well as its hypothetical conceptualmeans, i.e. dynamic capabilities and complexity thinking. Furthermore, the relationalaspects of these concepts were elaborated and converged into a synthesis of what couldemerge to become a comprehensive and persistent approach towards organizationalfitness and strategic management per se.In respect to the complexity of the chosen concepts, a sequential method of incorporationwas adopted. In reviewing and analyzing existing literature on organizational fitness, apossible definition and a general anatomy for organizational fitness could be established.Subsequently, the components and rationale of dynamic capabilities were criticallydelineated. The insights derived were then inserted in a preliminary fitness model.Hereafter, complexity thinking was investigated and related to the dynamic capabilitiesframework. Motivated by the complementary nature of these concepts, two emergingtechniques of complexity thinking were delineated, viz. the co-evolutionary space andfitness landscapes, with the aim of deepening as well as extending the earlier preliminaryconcept.This logical yet theoretical and normature study presents clear pointers concerningstrategic enterprise robustness with which organizational fitness could be approached inthe specific realm of this conceptual frame. In respect of its hypothetical and preliminarynature, the conclusions reached should be seen in their proper perspective. Moreover,further basic and applied research is seen as crucial to substantiate the conclusions andrecommendations of this study.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University