On serendipity and organizing

Serendipity means the accidental discovery of something valuable. While it is sometimes presented as an element of organizational learning, it has rarely been addressed per se by organizational scholars. We discuss and elaborate the processes associated with serendipity in the organizational context...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:European management journal 2010-10, Vol.28 (5), p.319-330
Main Authors: Cunha, Miguel Pina e, Clegg, Stewart R., Mendonça, Sandro
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Creativity
Exploration
Learning
Metaphor
Metaphorical association
Organization theory
Organizational learning
Organizational research
Serendipity
Serendipity Learning Unsought discovery Creativity
Studies
Unsought discovery
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Summary:Serendipity means the accidental discovery of something valuable. While it is sometimes presented as an element of organizational learning, it has rarely been addressed per se by organizational scholars. We discuss and elaborate the processes associated with serendipity in the organizational context. At its core, serendipity is a process of metaphorical association – seeing something in another thing. New ways of seeing may provide the necessary ingredients for creativity and exploratory learning, which will counter organizational tendencies towards inertia and the ossification of dominant mindsets and practices.
ISSN:0263-2373
1873-5681
DOI:10.1016/j.emj.2010.07.001