The Morphogenesis of Organizational Capabilities

The ontological turn in organisational capabilities theorising has pitched methodological individualism against methodological collectivism. Although illuminating in their own rights, it has been acknowledged that reconciling this dichotomy holds the key to unlocking the capabilities paradox. In this work we attempt to provide a solution to this micromacro divide. Drawing on Archer’s morphogenesis approach we examine capabilities in terms of emergent social structures. We argue for the pre-existence of an objective capability and analyse its reproduction or transformation in terms of a reciprocal interplay between the emergent powers of structure, culture and agency. We thus maintain that by preserving the ontic differentiation between structure, culture and agency the conditions propitious for continuity or change are illuminated.