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Polymorphous Organization: A Nested-Structurationist Study of an Organizational Form in the IT Services Outsourcing Industry

Joy, Simy
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1264534725

Abstract Details

2010, Doctor of Philosophy, Case Western Reserve University, Organizational Behavior.
In an in-depth field study of the work practices among the teams engaged in the delivery of outsourced IT services in a large IT services company in India, I discovered the organizational form that I call "Polymorphous Organization". It is the phenomenon where each team was embedded in a unique work context constituted by both the parent organization and the client organization it served, and as a result, had evolved into a "customized organization" that possessed the unmistakable traits of the parent organization, yet was very different from the other teams. Using a nested-structurationist approach, I show how each team relied on their own combinations of work practices to negotiate their own unique context, and yet among them existed common structural principles existed among those work practices that were operationally different. I identify the characteristic structural principles practiced in these teams as own morphology and operational level practices, clear boundaries with the other entities in both parent and the client environments, mutual buffering of the technical and managerial roles, continuous internal reconfigurations, independent economic viability and dual identity. I discuss how the team level structuration influences the organizational level macro-structure and strategizing practices. I present an empirical model for "Polymorphous Organizing" and a general model for a "Polymorphous Organization". This study contributes organization theory by adding to the understanding of the organizational boundaries and organizing across boundaries, and the organizational actors and their strategic capabilities.
Ronald Fry, PhD (Committee Chair)
Diana Bilimoria, PhD (Committee Member)
Sandy Piderit, PhD (Committee Member)
Leonard Lynn, PhD (Committee Member)
257 p.
Organization Theory
New organizational forms; Polymorphous organization; IT outsourcing industry

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Joy, S. (2010). Polymorphous Organization: A Nested-Structurationist Study of an Organizational Form in the IT Services Outsourcing Industry [Doctoral dissertation, Case Western Reserve University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1264534725

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Joy, Simy. Polymorphous Organization: A Nested-Structurationist Study of an Organizational Form in the IT Services Outsourcing Industry. 2010. Case Western Reserve University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1264534725.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Joy, Simy. "Polymorphous Organization: A Nested-Structurationist Study of an Organizational Form in the IT Services Outsourcing Industry." Doctoral dissertation, Case Western Reserve University, 2010. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1264534725

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

case1264534725
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© 2010, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Case Western Reserve University School of Graduate Studies and OhioLINK.