Examining the Stability and Variability of Routine Performances: The Effects of Experience and Context Change

This study examines how the performance experience of actors shapes the stability and variability of routine performances. We argue that experience in performing a routine provides actors with greater understandings of the routine and its context, which provides an overall stabilizing effect on rout...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of management studies 2012-12, Vol.49 (8), p.1407-1434
Main Authors: Turner, Scott F., Fern, Michael J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
agency
Budget constraint
context dependence
Contextual analysis
Economic analysis
Economic performance
Economic stability
experience
generative
Human performance
Management
micro-foundations
Organizational behavior
routines
Studies
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Summary:This study examines how the performance experience of actors shapes the stability and variability of routine performances. We argue that experience in performing a routine provides actors with greater understandings of the routine and its context, which provides an overall stabilizing effect on routine performances, but experience also heightens actors' capacity to adjust performances in response to changes in contextual constraints. Our analyses of routine performances in the waste collection sector are generally consistent with the arguments. Our findings also highlight differences in how actors' experience affects responsiveness to different forms of change in contextual constraints. These findings help to extend our understanding of the micro‐foundations of routines.
ISSN:0022-2380
1467-6486
DOI:10.1111/j.1467-6486.2012.01061.x