Time：May. 22nd (Thursday) 10am -12noon

Location: Zhifuxuan, National School of Development, Peking U.

Speaker Quan, Jing, Assistant Professor, Renmin University of China

 

 

 

Abstract：

This study develops an account of how the multiple dimensions of an organization’s niche and the mobility inertia that an organization faces in its distribution niche location influence an organization’s likelihood of changing its distribution niche location. I examine the independent film production companies in the U.S. film industry from 1997 to 2008. I find that the likelihood of an independent production company’s change in its distribution niche location depends on (1) its repeated ties with distributors in that niche location; (2) the value of the resources of the independent’s labor niche location; and (3) the value of the resources of the independent’s distribution niche location. An independent’s repeated ties with distributors in the independent’s distribution niche location made the independent resistant to change. An independent’s high-status labor niche location, in terms of high-value labor resources, and low-status distribution niche location, in terms of low-value distribution resources, trigger the independent’s increase in the distribution niche location and impede the decrease in the distribution niche location. These findings suggest the co-dependence among the multiple dimensions of an organization’s niche and demonstrate both the catalysts for and constraints on an organization’s change in its niche location.

 

Dr. Jing Quan received her Ph.D. from Jindal School of Management, The University of Texas at Dallas. Jing’s research interests relate to organizational theory and strategy topics, with a focus on organizational ecology. Her current research explores: niche theories in organizational ecology; Hollywood film industry; social networks, and independent film production.