Steve Randall and Mitchell Alegre raise an interesing issue how the
subjective experience of time arguing that a distinction between past,
present, and future is artificial. Markus and Nurius (Possible Selves,
American Psychologist, 1986) use this dintinction in discussing how people
view themselves. They argue for a trinitarian view of past selve (who wwe
use to be), current self (who we are), and future self (who we could
become). My colleagues (Fox-Wolfgramm, Boal, & Hunt, ASQ, 1998) used this
notion, coupled with research on organizational identity to interpret and
understand how two banks, with different strategic orientations, adapted to
the Community Reinvestment Act. Thus, we found the trinitarian view
useful. However, a possible middle ground exists. Drawing upon the work
of Gioia and Thomas (ASQ, 1996), we argue that "...it is in the
articulation for change that past, present, and envisioned future come
together,....successful strategic change is preceded by a change in
identity, (p.118). Thus, the integration of time with an organization's or
person's sense of self is not a constant, but continually changes. Our
understanding of who we are influences are understanding of who we use to
be, and who we want to become. As our understanding of who we are changes,
so does our understanding of the past and envisioned future.
I often tell colleagues that I use to be an OB person (i.e., most of my
research was on such topics as intrinsic motivation, organizational
commitment, job involvement, etc.) Now I identify myself as primarily as
an OT (Organizational theorist) and Strategy person (most of my current
research focuses primarily on strategic leadership and change, mergers and
acquisitions, and the resourced based view of the firm, i.e, what is
sometimes referred to as competence-based competition). Now I am
envisioning becoming an public policy/internationalist because I am
interested in understanding the nexus between national/international
conventions & laws with corporate behavior, and the reciprocal effects.
Toward that end, Turhan Kaymak and I have already completed a study looking
at new product innovation and global competition in the computer chip
industry.
The overlap of time, for me, occurs in my attempts to draw upon my past and
envisioned future in my current writings.
May your envisioned future be a happy one, and may it become a
self-fulfilling prophesy.
Best, Kim Boal
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Kim Boal
College of Business Administration
Texas Tech University
Lubbock, TX 79409
(806) 742-2150
KimBoal@ttu.edu