Design and Routine Dynamics

doi:10.1017/9781108993340.026

Chapter 22 - Design and Routine Dynamics

from Part III - Themes in Routine Dynamics Research

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 11 December 2021

Frithjof E. Wegener and

Edited by

Claus Rerup and

Martha S. Feldman: Affiliation:
University of California, Irvine
Brian T. Pentland: Affiliation:
Michigan State University
Luciana D'Adderio: Affiliation:
University of Edinburgh
Katharina Dittrich: Affiliation:
University of Warwick
Claus Rerup: Affiliation:
Frankfurt School of Finance and Management
David Seidl: Affiliation:
University of Zurich

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Summary

Organizational actors spend a tremendous amount of time and energy trying to intentionally change their routines. We conceptualize these intentional changes as routine design—intentional efforts to change one or more aspects of a routine to create a preferred situation. We review existing routines research on intentional change by showing how different perspectives on routines have generated different insights about the relationship between intentional change and design. We highlight a cognitive perspective, a practice perspective, and an ontological process perspective on routine design. We then draw on two perspectives inspired by design studies. Simon’s scientific perspective on design suggests that routines scholars study the effects and implications of designing artifacts. Schön’s reflective practice perspective on design suggests that routines scholars can examine how actors set the problem, engage in (re)framing, and in reflection-in-action. These design studies perspectives offer routines scholars a better understanding of efforts to intentionally change routines. Based on these insights from design studies, we develop a future research agenda for routine design.

Keywords

Routines routine dynamics design pragmatism process ontology design science design inquiry organizational design

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Type: Chapter
Information: Cambridge Handbook of Routine Dynamics , pp. 301 - 314

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108993340.026 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2021

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