文档介绍：Journal of High Technology
Management Research 13 (2002) 299–319
The neural firm
Burns and Stalker in extenso
Foo Check-Teck*,1, Lee Tuck-Suen2
MPE Centre for Engineering and Technology Management, Nanyang Technological University,
Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 63979, Singapore
Accepted 27 February 2002
Abstract
We theorize anizing learning activities in high-technology firms differs from those in
conventional manufacturing. Using controls, we found empirical support for our hypotheses, which are
due to market turbulence. High-technology-driven firms had to face a rapidly changing, highly volatile
environment with disruptive and destructive changes. Inspired by our findings, we suggest an
extension to the Burns and Stalker’s idea of the ‘‘organic’’ firm—a neural firm paradigm in
interpreting people–technology interactions. For high-technology firms having to cope with market
turbulence, we argue for ‘‘plasticity’’ anizing. D 2002 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Uncertainty; Management of Technology; Environment; Brain of the firm; anization;
Neural firm
1. Introduction
The role of the environment in influencing corporate behavior continues to be of central
interest among leading scholars and researchers (., Bourgeosis, 1985; Jauch & Kraft,
1986). This is despite the already extensive literature dealing with diverse perspectives on the
* Corresponding author. Fax: +65-7921911.
E-mail address: ******@ (F. Check-Teck).
1 Foo Check-Teck, the main author, is currently an Associate Professor at the Nanyang Technological
University, Singapore, and a Visiting Professor of Technology Strategy at the New York Institute of Technology,
USA.
2 Lee Tuck-Suen was a research student under the supervision of Foo Check-Teck at the School of Mechanical
and Production Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.
1047-8310/02/$ – see front matter D 2002 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.
PII: S