Organizational Resilience: Theoretical Framework

Abstract

In this chapter, a general theoretical framework of the book is presented. The framework builds on various sources of literature and in particular on an organic view on economic and organizational development. Using the classical concepts of variation, selection and retention, organizational resilience is seen as the capacity of a company to over time become a selected variation in the marketplace. Furthermore‚ the framework builds on findings from complexity theory that highlights the centrality of unforeseen events and unanticipated consequences. Such events and consequences can be both positive and negative (serendipities as well as severe challenges). The chapter ends in a new model that emphasizes the importance for a resilient organization to find an adequate balance between reliability, efficiency and change capacity.