The zone of inertia: absorptive capacity and organizational change

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe how interruptions in organizational learning effect institutional absorptive capacity and contribute to organizational inertia.

Design/methodology/approach

An exploratory model is presented as a heuristic to describe how interruptions in organizational learning affect absorptive capacity.

Findings

A number of pivotal factors may result in a zone of inertia hindering organizational learning and process.

Originality/value

This paper describes the concept of a zone of inertia and introduces a model placing the notion in context.

Citation

Godkin, L. (2010), "The zone of inertia: absorptive capacity and organizational change", The Learning Organization, Vol. 17 No. 3, pp. 196-207. https://doi.org/10.1108/09696471011034900