The Missing Link Between the Theory and Empirics of Path Dependence: Conceptual Clarification, Testability Issue, and Methodological Implications

Durand, Rodolphe; Vergne, Jean-Philippe

doi:10.1111/j.1467-6486.2010.00913.x

Cited by 124 publications

(207 citation statements)

References 56 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

197

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Since this notion was introduced as a way of characterizing technological or institutional evolution, it has been widely adopted and applied in the research fields of political science (Page, 2006;Pierson, 2004;Thelen, 2004), historical sociology (Mahoney, 2000) and management science (Sydow, Schrey€ ogg, & Koch, 2009;Vergne & Durand, 2010). Noticeably, Sydow et al (2009) developed a theoretical framework of organizational path dependence for organizational action and decision-making processes at the micro level.…”

Section: Theoretical Backgroundmentioning

confidence: 99%

Path dependence and tourism area development: the case of Guilin, China

Hassink

2014

Tourism Geographies

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In recent years, tourism geographers have paid increasing attention to the concepts of 'path dependence ', 'path creation' and 'lock-in' as key ingredients in constructing an evolutionary approach to tourism studies. The path dependence model of tourism area evolution discussed in this paper is used to explain the emergence, rise and decline of a tourism area, especially to figure out specific path dependence and lock-in of dominant tourism products and sectors. The model is tested by using it to explain the last 40 years of tourism area development in Guilin, China. It is found that the emergence of the Guilin tourism area was not only influenced by contingent events, but also basically rooted in its initial conditions. The findings show that over time Guilin experienced path preformation, path creation and development, path as a dynamic process, and a new path creation and development phase. Moreover, the general path-dependent process of evolution of the Guilin tourism area is embedded in the resource-based path dependence of tourism products and the institutional path dependence of tourism sectors. We conclude that the concept of path dependence requires further application and elaboration to understand the different path-dependent processes of tourism products, sectors or institutions in different tourism areas.

show abstract

Section: Theoretical Backgroundmentioning

confidence: 99%

Path dependence and tourism area development: the case of Guilin, China

Hassink

2014

Tourism Geographies

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Despite the scientific relevance of the approach, path dependence is still contested (Vergne and Durand, 2010). The most commonly conception used by scholars is the deterministic one.…”

Section: Path Dependence Approachmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The combination of factors that is required to generate path dependence is less common (Vergne and Durand, 2010). This leads us to argue that path dependence is often defined rather narrowly, and used metaphorically rather than on solid theoretical foundations (Sydow et al, 2009).…”

Section: 5mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…There are very few references outlining in detail the characteristics or drivers that make organizations path-dependent. Much literature refers to path dependence as a mere label for a particular class of dynamic phenomena, but not as a theory to explain the way in which systems behave and evolve (David, 2007;Vergne and Durand, 2010). Developing a full conceptualization of path dependence, may allow a better understanding of organizations' evolution when responding to external stimuli and planned change.…”

Section: 5mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Therefore, path dependence is a dynamic approach that differs from the deterministic one in that irreversibility arises from events along the path. They are not only the initial conditions that play a role in the multiplicity of possible outcomes in organizational evolution (Antonelli, 2009;Vergne and Durand, A path dependence approach 2010). Path dependence is the conceptualization of historical dynamics in which one "accident" follows another relentlessly and unpredictably.…”

Section: 5mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Towards a path dependence approach to study management innovation

Perello-Marín

Marín-García

Marcos-Cuevas

2013

Management Decision

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

If you would like to write for this, or any other Emerald publication, then please use our Emerald for Authors service information about how to choose which publication to write for and submission guidelines are available for all. Please visit www.emeraldinsight.com/authors for more information. About Emerald www.emeraldinsight.comEmerald is a global publisher linking research and practice to the benefit of society. The company manages a portfolio of more than 290 journals and over 2,350 books and book series volumes, as well as providing an extensive range of online products and additional customer resources and services.Emerald is both COUNTER 4 and TRANSFER compliant. The organization is a partner of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and also works with Portico and the LOCKSS initiative for digital archive preservation. AbstractPurpose -Scholars in social sciences tend to use the term of path dependence without explaining exactly what they mean by it. Path dependence is a useful approach to understand the success or otherwise of the implementation of management innovation. The aim of this paper is to identify under which conditions it makes sense to talk about path dependence, and the relevance of using path dependence to the analysis of management innovation. Design/methodology/approach -The path dependence literature in different contexts and knowledge areas within social science is reviewed using a narrative approach. Findings -The concept of path dependence can be used to study management innovation, particularly when analyzing the introduction of new management practices. The authors argue that the order in which management practices are introduced has a profound effect on the outcomes for the organization. When the appropriate practices are introduced first, these create enhanced capabilities for the implementation of subsequent practices. If inappropriate practices are rolled out, they may severely impede management innovation and thus evolution and change of the firm. Research limitations/implications -This work highlights the need to conduct further research to understand the interaction between existing practices and the new ones. This study can be extended with an empirical work to corroborate the results presented here. Originality/value -By reviewing the different definitions of path dependence that exist in the literature, this paper will stimulate a debate on the necessary and sufficient conditions of path dependence and encourage a greater level of clarity in the management innovation area.

show abstract

Time scale interactions and the coevolution of humans and water

2015

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

We present a coevolutionary view of hydrologic systems, revolving around feedbacks between environmental and social processes operating across different time scales. This brings to the fore an emphasis on emergent phenomena in changing water systems, such as the levee effect, adaptation to change, system lock‐in, and system collapse due to resource depletion. Changing human values play a key role in the emergence of these phenomena and should therefore be considered as internal to the system. Guidance is provided for the framing and modeling of these phenomena to test alternative hypotheses about how they arose. A plurality of coevolutionary models, from stylized to comprehensive system‐of‐system models, may assist strategic water management for long time scales through facilitating stakeholder participation, exploring the possibility space of alternative futures, and helping to synthesize the observed dynamics in a wide range of case studies. Future research opportunities lie in exploring emergent phenomena arising from time scale interactions through historical, comparative, and process studies of human‐water feedbacks.

show abstract

The Missing Link Between the Theory and Empirics of Path Dependence: Conceptual Clarification, Testability Issue, and Methodological Implications

Cited by 124 publications

References 56 publications

Path dependence and tourism area development: the case of Guilin, China

Path dependence and tourism area development: the case of Guilin, China

Towards a path dependence approach to study management innovation

Time scale interactions and the coevolution of humans and water

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About