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Multiplying the Division of Labour: Functional Differentiation of the Next Key Variables in Management Research
Author(s) -
Roth Steffen,
Sales Augusto,
Kaivooja Jari
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
systems research and behavioral science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.371
H-Index - 45
eISSN - 1099-1743
pISSN - 1092-7026
DOI - 10.1002/sres.2452
Subject(s) - division of labour , division (mathematics) , differentiation , key (lock) , multiplication (music) , human resource management , resource (disambiguation) , product differentiation , sociology , knowledge management , management , computer science , economics , mathematical economics , social science , mathematics , arithmetic , computer network , computer security , combinatorics , cournot competition , market economy
In this article, we draw on theories of social differentiation to show that functional differentiation is not about the division of work and organization, but rather about a multiplication of horizons for decision‐making. We argue that a systematic management of functional differentiation makes organizations smarter and more flexible. We corroborate this claim by demonstrations of how a functional approach to functional differentiation facilitates the design of new or the further development of well‐established management tools and research agendas in fields such as entrepreneurship, strategy, and human resource management. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.