Zhongyuan Sun

Reading lists Most assigned

The most assigned readings

The 54 readings that 6 or more of the 30 PhD syllabi and reading lists assign: a rough canon of doctoral training in organization theory and strategy. The number beside each is how many sources assign it; the line below gives its stream.

The streams with the most of them: 11 Social networks and embeddedness (8), 19 Resource-based view and capabilities (8), 15 Behavioral theory of the firm and organizational learning (7), 5 Organizational ecology and demography (6).

By decade

Before 1950: 1 reading<19501950s: 1 reading1950s1960s: 4 readings1960s1970s: 5 readings1970s1980s: 14 readings1980s1990s: 17 readings171990s2000s: 10 readings2000s2010s: 2 readings2010s2020s: 0 readings2020s
Most date from the 1990s; half were published in 1991 or later.

Readings

  1. Granovetter, M. (1985). Economic Action and Social Structure: The Problem of Embeddedness. American Journal of Sociology, 91(3), 481–510. https://doi.org/10.1086/228311 11.1 Embeddedness and network forms of organization · 11 Social networks and embeddedness15
  2. March, J. G. (1991). Exploration and Exploitation in Organizational Learning. Organization Science, 2(1), 71–87. https://doi.org/10.1287/orsc.2.1.71 15.5 Exploration and exploitation · 15 Behavioral theory of the firm and organizational learning15
  3. DiMaggio, P. J., & Powell, W. W. (1983). The Iron Cage Revisited: Institutional Isomorphism and Collective Rationality in Organizational Fields. American Sociological Review, 48(2), 147. https://doi.org/10.2307/2095101 8.1 Foundations: myth, ceremony and isomorphism · 8 Institutional theory14
  4. Coase, R. H. (1937). The Nature of the Firm. Economica, 4(16), 386–405. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-0335.1937.tb00002.x 21.1 Theory of the firm and its boundaries · 21 Organizational economics12
  5. Pfeffer, J., & Salancik, G. (1978). The External Control of Organizations: A Resource Dependence Perspective. Harper and Row. 4 Resource dependence and power12
  6. Hannan, M. T., & Freeman, J. (1984). Structural Inertia and Organizational Change. American Sociological Review, 49(2), 149. https://doi.org/10.2307/2095567 5 Organizational ecology and demography12
  7. Hannan, M. T., & Freeman, J. (1977). The Population Ecology of Organizations. American Journal of Sociology, 82(5), 929–964. https://doi.org/10.1086/226424 5 Organizational ecology and demography11
  8. Cohen, W. M., & Levinthal, D. A. (1990). Absorptive Capacity: A New Perspective on Learning and Innovation. Administrative Science Quarterly, 35(1), 128. https://doi.org/10.2307/2393553 15.6 Knowledge, absorptive capacity and transfer · 15 Behavioral theory of the firm and organizational learning11
  9. Meyer, J. W., & Rowan, B. (1977). Institutionalized Organizations: Formal Structure as Myth and Ceremony. American Journal of Sociology, 83(2), 340–363. https://doi.org/10.1086/226550 8.1 Foundations: myth, ceremony and isomorphism · 8 Institutional theory10
  10. Barney, J. (1991). Firm Resources and Sustained Competitive Advantage. Journal of Management, 17(1), 99–120. https://doi.org/10.1177/014920639101700108 19 Resource-based view and capabilities10
  11. Cohen, M. D., March, J. G., & Olsen, J. P. (1972). A Garbage Can Model of Organizational Choice. Administrative Science Quarterly, 17(1), 1. https://doi.org/10.2307/2392088 15.2 Bounded rationality, goals, coalitions and decision making · 15 Behavioral theory of the firm and organizational learning9
  12. Granovetter, M. S. (1973). The Strength of Weak Ties. American Journal of Sociology, 78(6), 1360–1380. https://doi.org/10.1086/225469 11.3 Strong and weak ties, social capital · 11 Social networks and embeddedness9
  13. Williamson, O. E. (1981). The Economics of Organization: The Transaction Cost Approach. American Journal of Sociology, 87(3), 548–577. https://doi.org/10.1086/227496 21.2 Transaction cost economics · 21 Organizational economics9
  14. Coleman, J. S. (1988). Social Capital in the Creation of Human Capital. American Journal of Sociology, 94, S95–S120. https://doi.org/10.1086/228943 11.3 Strong and weak ties, social capital · 11 Social networks and embeddedness9
  15. Burt, R. S. (1992). Structural Holes: The Social Structure of Competition. Harvard University Press. 11.4 Structural holes, brokerage and closure · 11 Social networks and embeddedness9
  16. Zuckerman, E. W. (1999). The Categorical Imperative: Securities Analysts and the Illegitimacy Discount. American Journal of Sociology, 104(5), 1398–1438. https://doi.org/10.1086/210178 9 Categories, identity and authenticity9
  17. Carroll, G. R., & Swaminathan, A. (2000). Why the Microbrewery Movement? Organizational Dynamics of Resource Partitioning in the U.S. Brewing Industry. American Journal of Sociology, 106(3), 715–762. https://doi.org/10.1086/318962 5 Organizational ecology and demography9
  18. Podolny, J. M. (2001). Networks as the Pipes and Prisms of the Market. American Journal of Sociology, 107(1), 33–60. https://doi.org/10.1086/323038 11.2 Networks and markets · 11 Social networks and embeddedness9
  19. Casciaro, T., & Piskorski, M. J. (2005). Power Imbalance, Mutual Dependence, and Constraint Absorption: A Closer Look at Resource Dependence Theory. Administrative Science Quarterly, 50(2), 167–199. https://doi.org/10.2189/asqu.2005.50.2.167 4 Resource dependence and power9
  20. Aldrich, H. E., & Ruef, M. (2006). Organizations evolving (2nd ed.). SAGE Publications. 16.1 Evolutionary theory and routines · 16 Evolutionary theory, technology and innovation9
  21. Emerson, R. M. (1962). Power-Dependence Relations. American Sociological Review, 27(1), 31. https://doi.org/10.2307/2089716 4 Resource dependence and power8
  22. Stinchcombe, A. (1965). Social structure and organizations. In J. G. March (Ed.), Handbook of Organizations (pp. 142–169). Rand McNally. 5 Organizational ecology and demography8
  23. Thompson, J. D. (1967). Organizations in Action: Social Science Bases of Administrative Theory. McGraw-Hill. 3 Contingency and configurational theory8
  24. Tolbert, P. S., & Zucker, L. G. (1983). Institutional Sources of Change in the Formal Structure of Organizations: The Diffusion of Civil Service Reform, 1880-1935. Administrative Science Quarterly, 28(1), 22. https://doi.org/10.2307/2392383 8.3 Diffusion, adoption and translation of practices · 8 Institutional theory8
  25. Fama, E. F., & Jensen, M. C. (1983). Separation of Ownership and Control. The Journal of Law and Economics, 26(2), 301–325. https://doi.org/10.1086/467037 21.3 Agency theory and corporate control · 21 Organizational economics8
  26. Wernerfelt, B. (1984). A resource‐based view of the firm. Strategic Management Journal, 5(2), 171–180. https://doi.org/10.1002/smj.4250050207 19 Resource-based view and capabilities8
  27. Levitt, B. (1988). Organizational Learning. Annual Review of Sociology, 14(1), 319–340. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.soc.14.1.319 15.4 Organizational learning · 15 Behavioral theory of the firm and organizational learning8
  28. Sutton, R. I., & Staw, B. M. (1995). What Theory is Not. Administrative Science Quarterly, 40(3), 371. https://doi.org/10.2307/2393788 W1 Theory and theorizing8
  29. Greve, H. R. (1998). Performance, Aspirations, and Risky Organizational Change. Administrative Science Quarterly, 43(1), 58. https://doi.org/10.2307/2393591 15.3 Aspirations and performance feedback · 15 Behavioral theory of the firm and organizational learning8
  30. Davis, G. F., & Marquis, C. (2005). Prospects for Organization Theory in the Early Twenty-First Century: Institutional Fields and Mechanisms. Organization Science, 16(4), 332–343. https://doi.org/10.1287/orsc.1050.0137 W1 Theory and theorizing8
  31. Gavetti, G., Greve, H. R., Levinthal, D. A., & Ocasio, W. (2012). The Behavioral Theory of the Firm: Assessment and Prospects. Academy of Management Annals, 6(1), 1–40. https://doi.org/10.5465/19416520.2012.656841 15.1 Foundations: the behavioral theory of the firm · 15 Behavioral theory of the firm and organizational learning8
  32. Nelson, R. R., & Winter, S. G. (1982). An Evolutionary Theory of Economic Change. Belknap Press of Harvard University Press. 16.1 Evolutionary theory and routines · 16 Evolutionary theory, technology and innovation7
  33. Tushman, M. L., & Anderson, P. (1986). Technological Discontinuities and Organizational Environments. Administrative Science Quarterly, 31(3), 439. https://doi.org/10.2307/2392832 16.3 Technological change and discontinuities · 16 Evolutionary theory, technology and innovation7
  34. Henderson, R. M., & Clark, K. B. (1990). Architectural Innovation: The Reconfiguration of Existing Product Technologies and the Failure of Established Firms. Administrative Science Quarterly, 35(1), 9. https://doi.org/10.2307/2393549 16.3 Technological change and discontinuities · 16 Evolutionary theory, technology and innovation7
  35. Cyert, R. M., & March, J. G. (1992). A Behavioral Theory of the Firm. Blackwell. 15.1 Foundations: the behavioral theory of the firm · 15 Behavioral theory of the firm and organizational learning7
  36. Podolny, J. M. (1993). A Status-Based Model of Market Competition. American Journal of Sociology, 98(4), 829–872. https://doi.org/10.1086/230091 12 Status and social evaluation7
  37. Uzzi, B. (1997). Social Structure and Competition in Interfirm Networks: The Paradox of Embeddedness. Administrative Science Quarterly, 42(1), 35. https://doi.org/10.2307/2393808 11.1 Embeddedness and network forms of organization · 11 Social networks and embeddedness7
  38. Priem, R. L., & Butler, J. E. (2001). Is the Resource-Based “View” a Useful Perspective for Strategic Management Research? Academy of Management Review, 26(1), 22–40. https://doi.org/10.5465/amr.2001.4011928 19 Resource-based view and capabilities7
  39. Hsu, G. (2006). Jacks of All Trades and Masters of None: Audiences' Reactions to Spanning Genres in Feature Film Production. Administrative Science Quarterly, 51(3), 420–450. https://doi.org/10.2189/asqu.51.3.420 9 Categories, identity and authenticity7
  40. Penrose, E. (1959). The Theory of the Growth of the Firm. Oxford University Press. 19 Resource-based view and capabilities6
  41. Lawrence, P. R., & Lorsch, J. W. (1967). Differentiation and Integration in Complex Organizations. Administrative Science Quarterly, 12(1), 1. https://doi.org/10.2307/2391211 3 Contingency and configurational theory6
  42. Barley, S. R. (1986). Technology as an Occasion for Structuring: Evidence from Observations of CT Scanners and the Social Order of Radiology Departments. Administrative Science Quarterly, 31(1), 78. https://doi.org/10.2307/2392767 7.7 Practice, materiality and technology · 7 Culture, cognition and sensemaking6
  43. Dierickx, I., & Cool, K. (1989). Asset Stock Accumulation and Sustainability of Competitive Advantage. Management Science, 35(12), 1504–1511. https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.35.12.1504 19 Resource-based view and capabilities6
  44. Hannan, M. T., & Freeman, J. (1989). Organizational Ecology. Harvard University Press. https://doi.org/10.4159/9780674038288 5 Organizational ecology and demography6
  45. Peteraf, M. A. (1993). The cornerstones of competitive advantage: A resource‐based view. Strategic Management Journal, 14(3), 179–191. https://doi.org/10.1002/smj.4250140303 19 Resource-based view and capabilities6
  46. Suchman, M. C. (1995). Managing Legitimacy: Strategic and Institutional Approaches. Academy of Management Review, 20(3), 571. https://doi.org/10.2307/258788 8.2 Legitimacy and decoupling · 8 Institutional theory6
  47. Ghoshal, S., & Moran, P. (1996). Bad for Practice: A Critique of the Transaction Cost Theory. Academy of Management Review, 21(1), 13. https://doi.org/10.2307/258627 21.6 Assessments and critiques · 21 Organizational economics6
  48. Uzzi, B. (1996). The Sources and Consequences of Embeddedness for the Economic Performance of Organizations: The Network Effect. American Sociological Review, 61(4), 674. https://doi.org/10.2307/2096399 11.1 Embeddedness and network forms of organization · 11 Social networks and embeddedness6
  49. Mizruchi, M. S. (1996). What Do Interlocks Do? An Analysis, Critique, and Assessment of Research on Interlocking Directorates. Annual Review of Sociology, 22(1), 271–298. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.soc.22.1.271 11.5 Interorganizational networks, alliances and interlocks · 11 Social networks and embeddedness6
  50. Teece, D. J., Pisano, G., & Shuen, A. (1997). Dynamic capabilities and strategic management. Strategic Management Journal, 18(7), 509–533. https://doi.org/10.1002/(sici)1097-0266(199708)18:7<509::aid-smj882>3.0.co;2-z 19 Resource-based view and capabilities6
  51. Barney, J. B. (2001). Is the Resource-Based “View” a Useful Perspective for Strategic Management Research? Yes. Academy of Management Review, 26(1), 41–56. https://doi.org/10.5465/amr.2001.4011938 19 Resource-based view and capabilities6
  52. Rao, H., Monin, P., & Durand, R. (2003). Institutional Change in Toque Ville: Nouvelle Cuisine as an Identity Movement in French Gastronomy. American Journal of Sociology, 108(4), 795–843. https://doi.org/10.1086/367917 10 Social movements, power and inequality6
  53. Carroll, G. R., & Hannan, M. T. (2004). The Demography of Corporations and Industries. Princeton University Press. 5 Organizational ecology and demography6
  54. Navis, C., & Glynn, M. A. (2010). How New Market Categories Emerge: Temporal Dynamics of Legitimacy, Identity, and Entrepreneurship in Satellite Radio, 1990–2005. Administrative Science Quarterly, 55(3), 439–471. https://doi.org/10.2189/asqu.2010.55.3.439 9 Categories, identity and authenticity6