Towards a Geocentric Framework of Organizational Form: A Holistic, Dynamic and Paradoxical Approach

Abstract

Despite its increasing importance to the research and practice of organizational management, there is no consensus on how to describe, explain and prescribe network as an organizational form. Based upon the evidence of the Chinese network form within its institutional and cultural contexts, this paper seeks to make three contributions. First, it describes network as a unique form, different from other organizational forms and thus needing a new perspective. Second, it explains network form from a holistic, dynamic and paradoxical perspective by synthesizing economic, social and psychological rationalities. Third, it prescribes the ideal-typical network form by offering a geocentric framework of organizational form which is neither culture-blind (under-embedded) nor culture-bounded (over-embedded).