Uncharted waters: A behavioral approach to when, why and which organizational changes are adopted

This dissertation contributes to organization theory and strategy literatures by taking a behavioral perspective on exploring when, why, and which organizational changes are adopted. It consists of four empirical essays that consider: (1) which tactics middle managers employ to gain support from top management for a business model change initiative, (2) how board diversity impacts strategic decision-making and how that in turn affects the ability of the organization to change, (3) how the attention of the decision-makers and attainment discrepancy jointly shape what kind of organizational change decisions are made, and (4) how partners and indirect (joint-supplier) competitors influence adoption of a new organizational practice. Each essay examines a different type of practices that are changed, but they generally deal with firm boundaries and innovation. The first three essays are studies of the Dutch water authority sector. In the fourth, more externally oriented essay, I study the global video game industry (2006-2013). Essentially, going from intra- to inter-organizational sources, the dissertation provides insight into why, when, and which organizational changes are adopted by organizations.