The DOI matches its Crossref record; 2 of the 2 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Revolutionary Change Theories: A Multilevel Exploration of the Punctuated Equilibrium Paradigm
Abstract
Research on how organizational systems develop and change is shaped, at every level of analysis, by traditional assumptions about how change works. New theories in several fields are challenging some of the most pervasive of these assumptions, by conceptualizing change as a punctuated equilibrium: an alternation between long periods when stable infrastructures permit only incremental adaptations, and brief periods of revolutionary upheaval. This article compares models from six domains—adult, group, and organizational development, history of science, biological evolution, and physical science—to explicate the punctuated equilibrium paradigm and show its broad applicability for organizational studies. Models are juxtaposed to generate new research questions about revolutionary change in organizational settings: how it is triggered, how systems function during such periods, and how it concludes. The article closes with implications for research and theory.
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“Understanding how change can occur within organizational routines enables us to shed new light on the debate about whether organizational change is episodic or continuous (Tushman and Romanelli, 1985; Gersick, 1991; Weick and Quinn, 1999).”
From Reconceptualizing Organizational Routines as a Source of Flexibility and Change (2003) · cites this paper as Gersick, 1991
Citations
Cites
Developmental sequence in small groups.
Tuckman, B. W. (1965) · Psychological Bulletin · doi:10.1037/h0022100 · Cited by 5,778
Mechanization in problem solving: The effect of Einstellung.
Luchins, A. S. (1942) · Psychological Monographs · doi:10.1037/h0093502 · Cited by 1,143
Cited by
Sorted by citations
From sectoral systems of innovation to socio-technical systems
Geels, F. W. (2004) · Research Policy · doi:10.1016/j.respol.2004.01.015 · Cited by 4,098
Reconceptualizing Organizational Routines as a Source of Flexibility and Change
Feldman, M. S., & Pentland, B. T. (2003) · Administrative Science Quarterly · doi:10.2307/3556620 · Cited by 4,020
Explaining Development and Change in Organizations
van de Ven, A. H., & Poole, M. S. (1995) · The Academy of Management Review · doi:10.5465/amr.1995.9508080329 · Cited by 3,762
Levels issues in theory development, data collection and analysis
Klein, K. J., Dansereau, F., & Hall, R. J. (1994) · The Academy of Management Review · doi:10.2307/258703 · Cited by 1,607
SCHNEIDER, B., GOLDSTIEIN, H. W., & SMITH, D. B. (1995) · Personnel Psychology · doi:10.1111/j.1744-6570.1995.tb01780.x · Cited by 1,346
Metadata
- Authors
- Gersick, C. J. G.
- Affiliations
- University of California, Los Angeles (US)
- Corresponding author
- Gersick, Connie J. G.
- Venue
- The Academy of Management Review
- Publisher
- Academy of Management
- Published
- 1991-01
- Volume
- 16
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 10
- ISSN
- 0363-7425 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1970551484
- Cited by
- 2,183
- References
- 2
- Citations by year
- 2026: 46 · 2025: 39 · 2024: 65 · 2023: 52 · 2022: 78 · 2021: 77 · 2020: 76 · 2019: 72 · 2018: 64 · 2017: 116 · 2016: 88 · 2015: 94 · 2014: 74 · 2013: 86 · 2012: 91
- FWCI
- 36.34
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Academy of Management Review (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management › Management and Organizational Studies
- Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management › Organizational Change and Leadership
- Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management › Organizational Management and Change
- Keywords
- punctuated equilibrium, revolutionary change, organizational change, organizational development, adult development, group development, history of science, evolution, physical sciences, theory of change, incremental adaptation, change triggers
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- Gersick, C. J. G. (1991). Revolutionary Change Theories: A Multilevel Exploration of the Punctuated Equilibrium Paradigm. The Academy of Management Review. https://doi.org/10.5465/amr.1991.4278988
