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The life cycle metaphor: its emergence, understanding, and conceptualisation in business research

Die Lebenszyklusmetapher: Entstehen, Verständnis und Konzeptualisierung in der betriebswirtschaftlichen Forschung

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Abstract

This study reviews the literature on the use of the life cycle metaphor in business research. Throughout the three considered branches, it introduces a developmental perspective to explore dynamic changes and induce creative solutions.

Zusammenfassung

Diese Studie gibt einen Literaturüberblick über die Verwendung der Lebenszyklusmetapher in der Betriebswirtschaftsforschung. Über die drei untersuchten Teildisziplinen hinweg bringt es eine Entwicklungsperspektive ein, um dynamischen Wandel zu erkunden und kreative Lösungsansätze zu entwickeln.

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Notes

  1. Reprint of 1972 article.

  2. Dean (1976): Reprint of 1950 article.

  3. Reprint of 1950 article.

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Acknowledgements

The author thanks Anne Bergmann, Patrick Ilg, Helge Klapper, and Federico Rieckhof as well as the two anonymous referees for their careful reading and valuable comments. She further thanks Edeltraud Günther, Rainer Souren, Dietfried Liesegang, and other scholars for valuable discussions and feedback. She acknowledges support by the young researcher fellowship programme of the Technical University of Dresden.

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  1. Chair of Environmental Management and Accounting, Technische Universitaet Dresden, Faculty of Business and Economics, Muenchner Platz 1/3, 01062, Dresden, Germany

    Ramona Rieckhof

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  1. Ramona Rieckhof
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Correspondence to Ramona Rieckhof.

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R. Rieckhof declares that she has no competing interests.

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Rieckhof, R. The life cycle metaphor: its emergence, understanding, and conceptualisation in business research. uwf 25, 91–107 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00550-017-0455-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00550-017-0455-6

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