Discover how grammar helps map the hidden patterns in how organizations work, turning routines into understandable sequences.
This concise study introduces a theoretical model that treats organizational routines as patterns of action governed by grammar-like rules. Through a practical example from software support, it shows how routines can be analyzed as sequences, with sub-patterns that can be rearranged to form new routines. The approach highlights differences between routine behavior and non-routine work, offering a fresh lens for studying organizational processes.
The author explains a step-by-step method for building and testing a grammar against observed data, including how to rewrite strings to reveal underlying structures. The result is a toolset that helps distinguish typical, normatively correct patterns from less conventional ones, while acknowledging how agents and situations shape routine performance.
- Learn how a grammar describes the sequence of actions in a routine
- See how routines can contain interchangeable sub-patterns and actions
- Understand the method of data rewriting to test grammatical models
- Explore how these ideas apply to real-world organizational processes
Ideal for students and professionals studying organizational behavior, information systems, and management theory.
A Grammatical Model of Organizational Routines in a Technical Service Organization