The dialectics of serendipity

Miguel Pina e Cunha, Arménio Rego, Stewart Clegg, Greg Lindsay

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

40 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Serendipity in organizations has often been perceived as a mysterious occurrence. We approach the process of serendipity via reconsideration of Honda's entry into the US market using an alternate templates analysis, showing that serendipity can be conceptually interpreted as the synthesis of preparation and openness to novelty, articulated through generative doubt. In this sense, it can be thought of as a dialectical process that thrives through the creative synthesis of the existing and the new. It is a practical accomplishment rather than an organizational form of mystery.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)9-18
Number of pages10
JournalEuropean Management Journal
Volume33
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Feb 2015

Keywords

  • Alternate templates
  • Dialectics
  • Doubt
  • Honda effect
  • Serendipity

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