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The evolution of organizational niches: U.S. automobile manufacturers, 1885-1981

Dobrev, S.; T-y., Kim; Carroll, G.R.

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Authors

S. Dobrev

Kim T-y.

G.R. Carroll



Abstract

Although the niche figures prominently in contemporary theories of organization, analysts often fail to tie micro processes within the niche to long-term changes in the broader environment. In this paper, we advance arguments about the relationship between an organization's niche and evolution in the structure of its organizational population over time. We focus on the technological niche and processes of positioning and crowding among firms in the niche space, relating them to the level of concentration among all firms in the market. Building on previous empirical studies in organizational ecology, we study the evolution of concentration in the American automobile industry from 1885 to 1981 and estimate models of the hazard of exit of individual producers from the market. The findings show that niche and concentration interact in complex ways, yielding a more unified depiction of organizational evolution than typically described or reported.

Citation

Dobrev, S., T-y., K., & Carroll, G. (2002). The evolution of organizational niches: U.S. automobile manufacturers, 1885-1981. Administrative Science Quarterly, 47(2), 233-264. https://doi.org/10.2307/3094805

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date 2002-06
Deposit Date Aug 21, 2008
Publicly Available Date Aug 21, 2008
Journal Administrative Science Quarterly
Print ISSN 0001-8392
Publisher The Johnson School
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 47
Issue 2
Pages 233-264
DOI https://doi.org/10.2307/3094805

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