Abstract
The article analyses major strategic shifts in eight regulatory agencies in the United States. The study underlines the influences of multiple factors in these strategic shifts and shows the usefulness of studying organizations' strategy-making cycles longitudinally. The relevant information on the eight regulatory agencies are analysed both qualitatively and quantitatively, paying attention to organization — environment interactions over time. Thirty strategic turnarounds in the eight agencies seemed to follow a consistent pattern, and it is concluded that there is a sequential order of progression from ‘defensive’ to ‘growth’ through rational strategies.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bernstein, M.,Regulating Business by Independent Commission. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1955.
Business Week. ‘The Economic in Commodities' Future’, 29 January 1979: pp. 107 – 108.
-- ‘The Futures Watchdog Tries to Sharpen His Bite’, 21 January 1980: pp. 64.
Chandler, A.,Strategy and Structure. Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1962.
Child, J., ‘Organizational Structures, Environment and Performance: The Role of Strategic Choice’,Sociology, Vol. 6: pp. 2 – 22.
Edelman, M.,The Symbolic Use of Politics. Urbana, IL: University of Illinois Press, 1964.
Galty, R., ‘Reining in the Regulators’,Nations Business Vol. 71, June 1982: pp. 26 - 32.
Hedberg, B., Nystrom, P., and Starbuck, W., ‘Camping on Seesaws: Prescriptions for a Self-Designing Organization’,Administrative Science Quarterly Vol. 21, 1976: pp. 41 - 65.
McCaffrey, D.,OSHA and the Policies of Health Regulation. New York: Plenum, 1982.
Miles, R., and Snow, C., Organizational Strategy, Structure, and Process. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1978.
Miller, D., and Friesen, P., ‘Archetypes of Organizational Transition’,Administrative Science Quarterly Vol. 25, 1980: pp. 269 - 298.
Quinn, R., and Cameron, K., ‘Organizational Life Cycle and the Criteria of Effectiveness’,Management Science Vol. 29, 1983: pp. 301 - 317.
Quinn, R., and Rohrbaugh, J., ‘A Spatial Model of Effectiveness Criteria: Towards a Competing Values Approach to Organizational Analysis’,Management Science Vol. 29, 1983: pp. 363 - 379.
The Washington Post. ‘Hearings Raise Doubts That CFTC Can Survive’, 4 March 1982.
Withane, S.,Strategic Change in Organizations: A Study of Regulatory Behavior. Doctoral Dissertation. Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy, State University of New York at Albany, 1983.
Additional information
The author is a Professor in the Faculty of Administration, University of New Brunswick.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Withane, S. Strategic turnarounds in organizations: An analysis of regulatory change. Asia Pacific J Manage 2, 96–105 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01734691
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01734691