Path Dependence and the Roots of Interorganizational Relationship Challenges

Abstract

Governance today often requires concerted action by multiple organizations operating within and across sectors. Although scholars fruitfully have assayed many factors that facilitate or constrain interorganizational collaboration, the extant literature largely ignores the ways in which historical patterns of policy and organizational development may figure in present-day obstacles to collaboration. This is unfortunate, for such obstacles may result from path dependence and, thus, be particularly ingrained and resistant to change. In this article, we detail recent advances in the path dependency theory, then illustrate our argument with a case study of path-dependent barriers to collaboration between two public programs pressed to work together after decades of deliberately separate operation. The case confirms the utility of new theoretical developments, yet also suggests necessary clarifications and refinements. Though aspects of path dependence theory should be reexamined, we argue that it is ripe for use by scholars of public management concerned with barriers to collaboration and other contemporary governance challenges.

Character Education Model for High School Students during the Pandemic in terms of Pedagogic Competence and Teacher Personality

“…From another point of view, especially religion, a character is a form of morals. Morals are attitudes or actions that have taken root because of habits that are often carried out and become permanent, long, and spontaneous actions (Sedgwick & Jensen, 2021). Regarding character education, three important elements play a very important role in planting and strengthening character education, namely family, school, and environment (Suwarno et al, 2021).…”

Acquiesce, Compromise, or Avoid? Collaboration, Coordination, & Cooperation as Different Strategic Responses to Institutional Pressures

“…These programs both have limited budgets and resources to fulfill the hefty task of preschool education, and they are often trying to attract to their programs a similar pool of students. At times, competition and differing approaches to preschool impede the administrators of these programs from establishing deep IORs (Sedgwick & Jensen, 2021). However, sharing information about enrollees and best practices, coordinating enrollment dates and bus transportation, and at times, blending program funds for classroom development, can go a long way to safeguard grant dollars, maximize resources, and create high-quality preschool experiences.…”

Complexing Governance Styles: Connecting Politics and Policy in Governance Theories

“…There is another perspective of path dependence, with implications for public management. Path dependence can incur habituation situations, creating unreflective, non-strategic, insentient, and dispositional agency patterns for public managers (Sarigil, 2015; Sedgwick & Jensen, 2021).…”

“…Time is an essential variable in constructing governance styles, with path dependence implications for reforms. Path dependence situations occur when a policy exhibits increasing returns (Pierson, 2000), or ideational legitimation, in which courses of action are shaped or constrained by previous structures of ideas and institutions (Mahoney & Thelen, 2010), resulting in the inertia of organizations and managers decisions (Sarigil, 2015; Sedgwick & Jensen, 2021).…”