Stability and Change in High-Tech Enterprises

At the time of the millennium the nature of work is undergoing major developments during what is a period of rapid economic and technological change. This book examines how firms, as particular economic institutions, live through and experience change. Four high-technology firms are studied, and the authors provide a rich analysis of their routines and how people are continually engaged with change. Explanations are developed which provide new foundations for the understanding of firms in any sector. The work emphasises empirical evidence, rule-based action and the need to recognise the historical, social and interpretive contexts. The book’s primary contribution is the development of a broader concept of routine, in particular, the identification of routine practices at a strategic level and the demonstration that such practices can incorporate change. The analysis identifies the significance of technology in economic change and confirms that an institutional approach to the understanding of firms’ behaviour is of great value.

Author Biography

Neil Costello is Head of Economics at the Open University. He has held a number of senior posts at the OU and elsewhere and has undertaken consultancy in international development. His teaching and research have increasingly been based around developing an understanding of real-life cases using explanations drawn from a wide range of theoretical positions.