Conceptualisations of incumbent firms in sustainability transitions: Insights from organisation theory and a systematic literature review
Open accessAbstract
Following the tradition of using opposing concepts as a basis for organisational analysis, this article advances a theory‐based understanding of incumbent firms in sustainability transitions. Building on seminal transition studies, we propose innovating/defending and collaborating/competing as two useful spectra to describe organisational behaviours in transitions. Presenting the automotive industry as an explanatory case, we show results from a systematic literature review that reveal motives for diverging behaviours. Combining the spectra into a 2 × 2 matrix, we then introduce four conceptualisations to explain the observed motives and behaviours. The conceptualisations are associated with different streams of organisation theory: dynamic capabilities and the resource‐based view, resource‐dependence theory, neo‐institutional theory and theories on organisational learning and path dependence. Referring to organisational ambidexterity, value configurations and political arenas, we conclude that transitions research can reach a more multifaceted understanding by challenging the prevailing notion of the firm as a coherent actor.
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Cites
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- Authors
- Magnusson, T., & Werner, V.
- Affiliations
- Linköping University (SE)
- Corresponding author
- Magnusson, Thomas
- Venue
- Business Strategy and the Environment
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2022-04-22
- Volume
- 32
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 903-919
- ISSN
- 0964-4733 (ISSN-L)
- 1099-0836
- OpenAlex
- W4224298779
- Cited by
- 80
- References
- 10
- Citations by year
- 2026: 30 · 2025: 14 · 2024: 19 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 4
- FWCI
- 1.04
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Business Strategy and the Environment (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- DiVA (Linkoping University) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Funders
- Energimyndigheten (P46351‐1)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Global and Planetary Change › Sustainability and Climate Change Governance
- Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management › Management and Organizational Studies
- Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Strategy and Management › Innovation and Knowledge Management
- Keywords
- incumbent firms, sustainability transitions, competition and cooperation, automotive industry, dynamic capabilities, resource-based view, resource dependence theory, new institutionalism, organizational learning, path dependence, organizational ambidexterity, value configuration, political arena
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