Biography - Michael T. Hannan

One of the criterion used by the editors for the selection of essays included in Classics in Organization Theory is: "Should the serious student of organization theory be expected to identify these authors and their basic themes?" If the answer was "Yes" it was "because the contribution has long been, or is increasingly being recognized as, an important theme by a significant writer". One of the writers selected was Hannan and his contribution in the 3rd edition of Classics... is "The Population Ecology of Organizations" (co-authored with John
Freeman), p.329. The purpose of this brief guide is to direct you to the writings of Hannan which often are found outside the usual business/management sources. In many cases the full text of the article will be directly available electronically to members of the UWO academic community. In most instances abstracts are also included for your convenience.
At this time (Jan.2004) Hannan is the StratCom Professor of Management and a Professor of Sociology at Stanford University. A bibliography and some research papers are available on the Stanford Graduate School of Business site. See also the brief account in Great Writers on Organizations.

Books in the Western Libraries Authored or Co-Authored by Michael T. Hannan

Logics of Organization Theory: Audiences, Codes, and Ecologies
The Demography Of Corporations And Industries
Dynamics Of Organizational Populations: Density, Legitimation, And Competition
For reviews, see The Academy of Management Review, Vol.18, No.2, April, 1993, p.335 and The American Journal of Sociology, Vol.99, No.2, Sept. 1993, p.464)
Organizational Ecology
Social Dynamics: Models And Methods
(For a review see: Contemporary Sociology, Vol.15, No.4, July, 1986, p.547 )
National Development And The World System: Educational, Economic, And Political Change, 1950-1970
Aggregation And Disaggregation In Sociology
Problems Of Aggregation And Disaggregation In Sociological Research

The following book is currently on order: The Demography of Corporations and Industries.

These essays by Hannan are also available in books held in the Western Libraries: "Dynamics of Ethnic Boundaries," in Social Stratification : Class, Race, and Gender in Sociological Perspective / edited by David B. Grusky; "Rationality and Robustness in Multilevel Systems: A Neofunctionalist Critique," in Rational Choice Theory : Advocacy and Critique / edited by James S. Coleman, Thomas J. Fararo; "Density Dependence in the Growth of Organizational Populations," in Ecological Models of Organization ; "Obstacles to Comparative Studies," in New Perspectives on Organizational Effectiveness. See also the essay on "Population Ecology" in the International Encylopedia of the Social & Behavioral Sciences (available electronically).

Selected Articles by Hannan

Author(s): Baron, James N. ; Hannan, Michael T. ; Hsu, Greta ; Kocak, Ozgecan
Title: "Gender and the Organization-Building Process in Young High-Tech Firms"
Source: In: Guillen, Mauro F., Collins, Randall, England, Paula, & Meyer, Marshall; Eds;THE NEW ECONOMIC SOCIOLOGY: DEVELOPMENTS IN AN EMERGING FIELD 2002, pp 245-273 Pub Date: 2002
Abstract: The gender composition of 170 Silicon Valley high-tech firms is analyzed in an effort to show how the "cultural blueprint" chosen by an organization's founders can affect an organization's development. Personal interviews with the founders of high-tech firms led to the conclusion that five distinct "cultural blueprints" are evident: the star, engineering, bureaucratic, autocratic, & commitment models. Firms that follow the commitment model are the least likely to encourage the employment & advancement of women. The authors conclude that this is the case because many employers prefer to hire employees whom they view as similar to themselves. Thus, many "high commitment" firms become inaccessible to women & minorities. Research focusing on the importance of a firm's "cultural blueprint" is called for. 3 Tables, 46 References. K. Larsen. Source: SocAbs

Author(s): Polos, Laszlo ; Hannan, Michael T.
Title: "Reasoning with Partial Knowledge"
Source: In: Sociological Methodology 2002, 32, pp. 33-181.
Abstract: Investigates how sociological argumentation differs from classical first-order logic. Focus is on theories about age dependence of organizational mortality. The overall pattern of argument does not comply with the classical monotonicity principle: adding premises overturns conclusions in an argument. The cause of nonmonotonicity is the need to derive conclusions from partial knowledge. Metaprinciples that appear to guide the observed sociological argumentation patterns are identified, & a semantics to represent them is formalized. This semantics yields a new kind of logical consequence relation. It is demonstrated that this new logic can reproduce the results of informal sociological theorizing & lead to new insights. It allows us to unify existing theory fragments, & it paves the way toward a complete classical theory. 1 Table, 7 Figures, 2 Appendixes, 30 References. Adapted from the source document. Source: SocAbs

Author(s): Polos, Lazlo ; Hannan, Michael T. ; Carroll, Glenn R.
Title: "Foundations of a Theory of Social Forms"
Source: In: Industrial and Corporate Change 2002, 11, 1, Feb, pp. 85-115.
Abstract: Sociologists frequently invoke the concept of form when analyzing organizations, collective action, art, music, culture, & other phenomena. Nonetheless, the form concept has not received careful theoretical analysis, either generally or in specific context. Using the tools of formal logic & set theory, we propose a language for defining social forms that is sufficiently general to incorporate feature-based, position-based, & boundary-based approaches to defining forms. We focus on organizational forms although we intend our conceptualization to be general. We define forms as a type of socially coded identity. We define identity in terms of social codes that specify the properties that an entity can legitimately possess. These codes can be enforced by insiders or outsiders. We claim that one knows that a social code exists when one observes that departures from the codes after periods of conformity cause a devaluation of the entity by relevant insiders &/or outsiders. This construction allows us to define a population as the set of entities with a common minimal external identity in a bounded system in a period of time. The minimal property ensures that we localize to the most specific socially enforced identities. The reliance on identities instead of forms allows us to define populations that never achieve form status & to extend population definitions back to the period of early legitimation. Research design implications follow. 2 Tables, 51 References. Adapted from the source document. Source:SocAbs

Author(s): Dobrev, Stanislav D. ; Kim, Tai-Young ; Hannan, Michael T.
Title: "Dynamics of Niche Width and Resource Partitioning"
Source: In: American Journal of Sociology 2001, 106, 5, Mar, 1299-1337.
Abstract: This article examines the effects of crowding in a market center on rates of change in organizational niche width & on organizational mortality. It proposes that, although firms with wide niches benefit from risk spreading & economies of scale, they are simultaneously exposed to intense competition. An analysis of organizational dynamics in automobile manufacturing firms in France, Germany, & GB shows that competitive pressure not only increases the hazard of disbanding but also prompts organizational transformations that give rise to processes of resource partitioning. Emphasizing the content/process distinction in conceptualizing organizational change, the article finds that the process effect of changes in niche width & position increases mortality hazards. We discuss our findings in light of the processes investigated by the ecological theories of density dependence, resource partitioning, & structure inertia, & point to the theoretical links that help to integrate these theories. 7 Tables, 2 Figures, 62 References. Adapted from the source document. Source: SocAbs

Author(s): Baron, James N. ; Hannan, Michael T. ; Burton, M. Diane
Title: "Labor Pains: Change in Organizational Models and Employee Turnover in Young, High-Tech Firms"
Source: In: American Journal of Sociology 2001, 106, 4, Jan, pp. 960-1012.
Abstract: Organizational theories, especially ecological perspectives, emphasize the disruptive effects of change. However, the mechanisms producing these effects are seldom examined explicitly. This article examines one such mechanism - employee turnover. Analyzing a sample of high-technology start-ups, we show that changes in the employment models or blueprints embraced by organizational leaders increase turnover, which in turn adversely affects subsequent organizational performance. Turnover associated with organizational change appears to be concentrated among the most senior employees, suggesting "old guard disenchantment" as the primary cause. The results are consistent with the claim of neoinstitutionalist scholars that founders impose cultural blueprints on nascent organizations & with the claim of organizational ecologists that altering such blueprints is disruptive & destabilizing. 8 Tables, 38 References. Adapted from the source document. Source: SocAbs

Author(s): Peli, Gabor L. ; Polos, Laszlo ; Hannan, Michael T.
Title: "Back to Inertia: Theoretical Implications of Alternative Styles of Logical Formalization"
Source: In: Sociological Theory 2000, 18, 2, July, pp. 195-215.
Abstract: Applies two new criteria, desirability & faithfulness, to evaluate Gabor Peli, Jeroen Bruggeman, Michael Masuch, & Breanndan O'Nuallain's (1994) formalization of Michael T. Hannan & John Freeman's (eg, 1984) structural inertia argument. It is concluded that this formalization fails to meet these criteria. Part of the rational reconstruction on which this formalization builds does not reflect well the substantive argument in translating the natural language theory into logic. Two alternative formalizations that meet both of these criteria are proposed. Moreover, both derive the inertia theorem from much weaker, so much less constraining, premises. While both new formalizations draw information only from the original statement of the inertia theory, they reflect two different interpretations of inertia accumulation. The two new formalizations are compatible with some recent theory extensions in organizational ecology. However, they lead to substantially different consequences when additional sociological considerations are added to their premise sets. The interplay between logical formalization & sociological content is highlighted, using the example of Stinchcombe's (1965) liability-of-newness theorem. Even modest extensions of the proposed models lead to contrary implications about the age dependence in organizational mortality rates. Even faithful logical formalizations of arguments ordinarily involve implicit theory building. 1 Table, 2 Figures, 22 References. Adapted from the source document. Source:SocAbs

Author(s): Baron, James N. ; Hannan, Michael T. ; Burton, M. Diane
Title: "Building the Iron Cage: Determinants of Managerial Intensity in the Early Years of Organizations"
Source: In: American Sociological Review 1999, 64, 4, Aug, pp. 527-547.
Abstract: Considers how founding conditions shape the proliferation of management & administration in a sample of 64 young technology start-up companies in CA's Silicon Valley. Interview & survey data from chief executive officers are used to examine the enduring imprint of two aspects of founding conditions: (1) the initial gender mix in start-ups & (2) the founder's employment model. Both factors influence the extent of managerial intensity that develops over time. In particular, firms with bureaucratic-model founders subsequently became more administratively intense than otherwise similar companies, particularly when compared with companies with "commitment-model" founders. Also, firms with proportionately more women during the first year subsequently bureaucratized less than otherwise similar firms. Findings thus support notions of path dependence in the evolution of organizational structures & underscore the importance of the "logics of organizing" that founders bring to new enterprises. 3 Tables, 1 Appendix, 42 References. Adapted from the source document. Source: SocAbs

Author(s): Peli, Gabor ; Polos, Laszlo ; Hannan, Michael T.
Title: "Organizational Inertia. Formalization Styles, Empirical Consequences"
Source: In: Szociologiai Szemle 1999, 1, pp. 120-142.
Abstract: Motivators of group behavior in organizations are accountability & reliability; it is argued that these & similar variables in organizational ecology are sufficiently quantifiable that predictions can be made regarding their effect on organizational inertia. Three assumptions can then be posited: (1) organizational ecology in modern society favors high levels of accountability & reliable performance; (2) accountability & reliability should be regular & reproducible; & (3) inertia follows from reproducibility (stasis). These assumptions imply that greater reproducibility begets greater organizational inertia. 2 Figures, 29 References. A. Cohen-Siegel. Source: SocAbs

Author(s): Hannan, Michael T.
Title: "Rethinking Age Dependence in Organizational Mortality: Logical Formalizations"
Source: In: American Journal of Sociology 1998, 104, 1, July, pp. 126-164.
Abstract: Explores the use of logical formalization to clarify research on the relation between organization age & the hazard of mortality. The literature contains claims that the hazard (1) falls with age (a "liability of newness"), (2) rises initially & then falls with age (a "liability of adolescence"), & (3) rises with age ("liabilities of senescence & obsolescence"). The formalizations reported cast the relevant theoretical arguments as propositions involving five concepts: endowment, imprinting, inertia, capability, & position. Each of the theoretical stories can be derived as implications of particular assumptions in two broad formalizations. Analysis clarifies the mechanisms at work in each theoretical account & provides guidance for empirical research designed to discriminate among the competing theories. 2 Tables, 5 Figures, 1 Appendix, 29 References. Adapted from the source document. Source: SocAbs

Author(s): Hannan, Michael T. ; Carroll, Glenn R. ; Dobrev, Stanislav D. ; Han, Joon ; Torres, John C.
Title: "Organizational Mortality in European and American Automobile Industries Part II: Coupled Clocks"
Source: In: European Sociological Review 1998, 14, 3, Sept, pp. 303-313.
Abstract: Part II (Part I, 1998) draws on secondary historical data from the British, French, US, & German automobile industries, 1885-1981 (total N = 4,395 manufacturers), the effects of organizational level & population or industry-level clocks on organizational mortality rates. Reported are estimates of a model in which the effect of organizational age varies by organizational size, & the effect of density varies by population age. Analysis of industry mortality experiences reveals complex patterns of effects of organizational age & size. Results concerning density & population age generally support a recent extension of the theory of density-dependent organizational evolution. 1 Table, 5 Figures, 15 References. Adapted from the source document. Source:SocAbs

Author(s): Hannan, Michael T. ; Carroll, Glenn R. ; Dobrev, Stanislav D. ; Han, Joon
Title: "Organizational Mortality in European and American Automobile Industries Part I: Revisiting the Effects of Age and Size"
Source: In: European Sociological Review 1998, 14, 3, Sept, pp. 279-302.
Abstract: Recent research on organizational mortality controls for the effect of age-varying organizational size & yields divergent results; some studies find that aging lowers mortality rates, & others find the opposite pattern. Here, it is argued that this divergence reflects partly an overly simple specification of the effects of age & size. Further, the effects of size on mortality rates differ by age group. Using secondary historical data on organizational populations of 1885-1981 automobile manufacturers in GB, France, the Federal Republic of Germany, & the US (total N = 4,395), it is found that specifications with such age variation improve over the usual specifications. Results for US, French, & German populations indicate that age dependence is negative for the largest organizations & positive for small ones. The pattern is the reverse in the British population. 4 Tables, 3 Figures, 78 References. Adapted from the source document. Source: SocAbs

Author(s): Hannan, Michael T.
Title: "Comment: On Logical Formalization of Theories from Organizational Ecology"
Source: In: Sociological Methodology 1997, 27, pp. 145-149.
Abstract: Comments on research from the Center for Computer Science in Organization & Management at the U of Amsterdam (Netherlands) to reassert the importance of formalization for sociological theory, focusing on Gabor Peli's (1997 [see abstract 9715183]) use of first-order logic to reconstruct organization ecology's niche theory. To date, this method has produced logical & mathematical formalizations of five strands of theory, eg, organizational ecology, structural inertia, life-history strategies, density dependence, niche width, & resource partitioning. It is suggested that three preliminary lessons can be drawn from the success of these initial formalizations: (1) Even reasonably straightforward natural language formulations are difficult to render in computer theorem-provers. (2) Logical reconstructions of theory are therefore demanding & time-consuming projects. (3) Hence, logical formalization should not be considered a panacea for theory-building efforts in sociology. 10 References. D.M. Smith. Source: SocAbs

Author(s): Podolny, Joel M. ; Stuart, Toby E. ; Hannan, Michael T.
Title: "Networks, Knowledge, and Niches: Competition in the Worldwide Semiconductor Industry, 1984-1991"
Source: In: American Journal of Sociology 1996, 102, 3, Nov, pp. 659-689.
Abstract: Develops the concept of an organization-specific niche in a technological network, defined by the dimensions of competitive crowding & status, & tests the hypothesis that crowding depresses growth rates, but, in conditions of high uncertainty, status elevates them. Competitive crowding refers to the density of organizations with similar technological antecedents, & status refers to the deference that is implicitly shown to an actor when others build on its inventions. Patents & patent citations are used to represent the technological network, & the hypothesis is tested through an examination of organization growth in the worldwide semiconductor industry, 1984-1991, based on business statistics. Results indicate that status matters for the growth of semiconductor firms, especially in crowded niches. It is concluded that this two-dimensional conception of niches might be applied outside the technological domain, in particular, to the sociology of science. 3 Tables, 3 Figures, 49 References. Adapted from the source document. Source: SocAbs

Author(s): Schomann, Klaus ; Blossfeld, Hans-Peter ; Hannan, Michael T.
Title: "The Segmentation of Transitions from School to Work in Postwar Germany: A Dynamic Perspective"
Source: In: Comparative Social Research 1995, 15, pp. 103-127.
Abstract: Using life history data from 2,171 persons in the Federal Republic of Germany, the process of wage attainment at first entry into the labor market is investigated to examine the transition between the education system & the labor market. A dynamic perspective of this entry process reveals that the expansion of the education system has cut the starting wage premium of higher educated men & women by 50% between the 1950s & the early 1980s. Large cohorts of labor market entrants with higher education certificates have depressed starting wages. Labor market segmentation plays an important role in wage determination, as well as job stability at first entry, largely to the disadvantage of women. 1 Table, 1 Figure, 28 References. Adapted from the source document. Source: SocAbs

Author(s): Hannan, Damian ; Hovels, Ben ; Van Den Berg, Sjaak ; White, Michael
Title: "'Early Leavers' from Education and Training in Ireland, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom"
Source: In: European Journal of Education 1995, 30, 3, Sept, pp. 325-346.
Abstract: Examines the relationship between unemployment & early leave from education & training programs in Ireland, the Netherlands, & the UK, drawing on secondary empirical data gathered during the 1980s. It is concluded that early leaving does represent a market disadvantage in all 3 countries, particularly due to the increased importance of industries that rely on highly skilled labor. Further, education & training programs do not adequately facilitate increased credentialing for those who are the least qualified, but instead focus on those jobs that pay the best for the fewest qualifications. However, the lower overall emphasis on education provides early leavers in the UK better opportunities than those in the other 2 countries, where education has become increasingly important & emphasized. 7 Tables, 1 Figure, 37 References. J. MacDowell. Source: SocAbs

Author(s): Hannan, Michael T. ; Dundon, Elizabeth A. ; Carroll, Glenn R. ; Torres, John Charles
Title: "Organizational Evolution in a Multinational Context: Entries of Automobile Manufacturers in Belgium, Britain, France, Germany, and Italy"
Source: In: American Sociological Review 1995, 60, 4, Aug, pp. 509-528.
Abstract: Secondary data from automobile collectors & historians are drawn on to examine the entries of firms into the automobile manufacturing industry in Europe, 1886-1981, replicating & comparing estimates of the basic model of density-dependent legitimation & competition for Belgium, GB, France, Germany, & Italy. The predictions of the model hold for each country. Processes of legitimation & competition are clarified by considering multiple levels of analysis & links between countries, hypothesizing that legitimation operates more broadly than competition. In particular, legitimation is driven by the density of all European automobile producers, while competition is determined by a country's own density of producers. This hypothesis is supported for the 4 continental countries, but not for GB. 4 Tables, 2 Figures, 47 References. Adapted from the source document. Source:SocAbs

Author(s): Hannan, Michael T. ; Carroll, Glenn R.
Title: "Theory Building and Cheap Talk about Legitimation: Reply to Baum and Powell"
Source: In: American Sociological Review 1995, 60, 4, Aug, pp. 539-544.
Abstract: A reply to Joel A. C. Baum's & Walter W. Powell's critique of an article by Hannan et al on organizational evolution (see abstracts of both in SA 43:6) refutes their comments on density-dependence theory, their claim that Hannan et al do not theorize about the effect of sociopolitical legitimation, & that the lack of attention to temporal interactions leads to erroneous inferences. On the contrary, it is argued that the effects of sociopolitical legitimation & temporal interactions were addressed. Also critiqued is Baum's & Powell's proposed alternative research strategy & their tabulation of findings from prior density-dependence studies. 1 Table, 28 References. S. Davies. Source: SocAbs

Author(s): Barron, David N. ; West, Elizabeth ; Hannan, Michael T.
Title: "A Time to Grow and a Time to Die: Growth and Mortality of Credit Unions in New York City, 1914-1990"
Source: In: American Journal of Sociology 1994, 100, 2, Sept, pp. 381-421.
Abstract: An empirical test of 2 hypotheses about organizational evolution: (1) old & large organizations become increasingly dominant over their environment, & (2) as organizations age, they become less able to respond to new challenges. Archival data are used to analyze the evolution of state-chartered credit unions in New York City, 1914-1990, considering the effects of organizational age, size, & population density on rates of organizational failure & growth. There is evidence that old & small institutions are more likely to fail, while young & small organizations have the highest growth rates. 3 Tables, 3 Figures, 1 Appendix, 67 References. Adapted from the source document. Source:SocAbs

Author(s): Hannan, Michael T.
Title: "Theoretical and Methodological Issues in Analysis of Density-Dependent Legitimation in Organizational Evolution"
Source: In: Sociological Methodology 1991, 21, pp. 1-42.
Abstract: Secondary data on foundings of national labor unions are analyzed to explore theoretical & methodological issues related to density independence in organizational founding processes. New models, which are versions of the logistic & Gomperty models but represent growth in legitimation as a function of density, are formulated & assessed: one is an extension of the generalized Yule model, while the other two differ qualitatively by assuming an S-shaped relationship between density & legitimation. Analysis shows that nonmonotonicity in the estimated effect of density on founding rates is relatively insensitive to details of model specification. Given that the estimates of three alternative specifications suggest that the impact of density in founding rates is not strongest close to zero density, it is contended that the original specification of the legitimation function, the generalized Yule model, can be improved. The study's coupling of theoretical & methodological themes reflects a conviction that explaining sociological processes involves explicit attention to correspondence between general theory & models of particular instances of the processes implied by the theory, models of processes, stochastic representations, estimators, observation plans, & data. 1 Table, 6 Figures, 57 References. S. Millett. Source: SocAbs

Author(s): Barron, David N. ; Hannan, Michael T.
Title: "Autocorrelation and Density Dependence in Organizational Founding Rates"
Source: In: Sociological Methods and Research 1991, 20, 2, Nov, pp. 218-241.
Abstract: An analysis of the robustness of estimates of the effect of density on the founding rates of six populations of organizations using a generalization of quasi-likelihood estimation that allows specification of autocorrelation processes. Autocorrelation is indeed present in five of the six data sets. However, the main substantive finding of much of the prior research proves to be robust - a nonmonotonic relationship between density & founding rate - continues to hold in most cases even when autocorrelation is taken into account: ie, the predicted pattern on nonmonotonic density dependence is robust with respect to the form of autocorrelation investigated. 1 Table, 2 Figures, 40 References. Adapted from the source document. Source: SocAbs

Author(s): Petersen, Trond ; Koput, Kenneth W. ; Hannan, Michael T. ; Barron, David N. ; Carroll, Glenn R.
Title: "Density Dependence in Organizational Morality: Legitimacy or Unobserved Heterogeneity?"
Source: In: American Sociological Review 1991, 56, 3, June, pp. 399-409.
Abstract: The relationship between mortality rates & the density of organizations is examined, arguing that decreases in mortality rates can be explained by unobserved heterogeneity (UH), & because UH is ubiquitous in most data sets, the mortality rate should decrease as the density increases. Two simulation studies & GAUSS programming language are used to generate a data set of 10,500 fictitious organizations, each with a life span of 21 years. The findings indicate that UH can produce both negative age dependence & negative density dependence. By controlling for the unobserved variables, these effects are no longer significant, which points to the importance of collecting direct measures of legitimation, rather than inferring it from a model. In On the Interpretation of Density Dependence in Rates of Organizational Mortality: A Reply to Petersen and Koput Michael T. Hannan (Cornell U, Ithaca, NY), Glenn R. Carroll, & David N. Barron find that Petersen & Koput's research design controlled for various forms of historical time variation in mortality rates, which effectively precludes the problem of spurious density dependence in the data set they studied. Though the importance of UH in certain data analyses is acknowledged, Barron et al conclude that the typical study of density dependence in rates of organizational mortality does not suffer from a problem of spuriousness. In A Rejoinder to Hannon, Barron, & Carroll, Petersen & Koput accept the criticism that controlling for organizational age under a more realistic founding process can alleviate the problem of UH. 5 Tables, 1 Figure, 35 References. Adapted from the source document. Source: SocAbs

Author(s): Ranger-Moore, James ; Banaszak-Holl, Jane ; Hannan, Michael T.
Title: "Density-Dependent Dynamics in Regulated Industries: Founding Rates of Banks and Life Insurance Companies"
Source: In: Administrative Science Quarterly 1991, 36, 1, Mar, pp. 36-65.
Abstract: It is argued that the ecological theory of density-dependent legitimation & competition does not apply to business organizations for which legitimation is not problematic, & applies only when many small & powerless organizations engage in competition free of external regulation. These issues are addressed by applying the theory to founding rates in populations of Manhattan (NY) banks & US insurance companies, drawing on historical industry accounts for the period 1791-1980 & 1759-1937, respectively. For each population, the first-order effect of density is positive & significant & the second-order effect is negative & significant, implying an inverted-U shape relation between density & founding rates, in agreement with the theory. Results suggest that the theory applies more broadly than has been acknowledged. 3 Tables, 6 Figures, 49 References. Adapted from the source document. Source: SocAbs

Author(s): Hannan, Michael T. ; Ranger-Moore, James
Title: "The Ecology of Organizational Size Distributions: A Microsimulation Approach"
Source: In: The Journal of Mathematical Sociology 1990, 15, 2, pp. 67-89.
Abstract: In clarifying how ecological dynamics interact with organizational growth in the evolution of organizational populations, a microsimulation approach is adopted. Good data on organizational growth are not generally available, nor are the dynamics of growth well understood, but in this modeling strategy, organizational size distributions provide an acceptable measure of growth & contraction. Simulation experiments are conducted to observe how size distributions & density evolve when initial conditions, competitive mechanisms (due to density & mass of populations), specifications of growth rates, & time paths of carrying capacities are varied. 5 Figures, 50 References. M. Pflum. Source:SocAbs

Author(s): Hannan, Michael T. ; Schomann, Klaus ; Blossfeld, Hans-Peter
Title: "Sex and Sector Differences in the Dynamics of Wage Growth in the Federal Republic of Germany"
Source: In: American Sociological Review 1990, 55, 5, Oct, pp. 694-713.
Abstract: Data obtained from the German Life History Study on 3 cohorts of West Germans (total N = 1,089 males [Ms] & 1,082 females [Fs]) are used to analyze wage changes for 3 aspects of work histories: (1) wage rate at time of first entry into the labor market, (2) wage changes when workers change jobs, & (3) wage growth within jobs. Education affects first wages for Ms & Fs, but the effect weakens sharply over time. Education also has a significant positive impact on wage growth within jobs over the entire period for Ms & a positive, but not significant, effect for Fs. Highly educated Fs do less well than other Fs when changing jobs, consistent with the view that advancement for such Fs is impeded by a "glass ceiling." Labor market segment affects initial wages & wage gains due to a job change. However, movement into internal labor markets (skilled jobs in large firms) does not confer an initial payoff in wages: workers in sectors characterized by internal labor markets do not experience higher than average wage growth within jobs, a result that runs counter to theories of segmented labor markets. Finally, wages grow at a decreasing rate with duration of job for both Ms & Fs; however, wage growth is initially more rapid for Fs but also declines more sharply over time. 3 Tables, 53 References. Adapted from the source document. Source: SocAbs

Author(s): Hannan, Michael T.
Title: "Age Dependence in the Mortality of National Labor Unions: Comparisons of Parametric Models"
Source: In: The Journal of Mathematical Sociology 1989, 14, 1, pp. 1-30.
Abstract: A review of literature & statistics on US labor unions 1836-1985, examining different types of time/age dependence with respect to the hazard of mortality in general, & for three specific types - disbanding, absorption, & merger. Of various stochastic models used to explore this dependence, the Gompertz model, which has recently been the model of choice, fits less well. 5 Tables, 13 Figures, 28 References. Adapted from the source document. Source: SocAbs

Author(s): Carroll, Glenn R. ; Hannan, Michael T.
Title: "Density Delay in the Evolution of Organizational Populations: A Model and Five Empirical Tests"
Source: In: Administrative Science Quarterly 1989, 34, 3, Sept, pp. 411-430.
Abstract: To test whether density at time of founding affects mortality rates, in particular whether organizations founded during high density periods show higher rates of mortality, five populations of organizations were studied, using histories of individual organizations derived from directories, official reports, & secondary data, including: () 621 US labor unions (1836-1985); (2) 125 Argentinian newspapers (1800-1900); (3) 224 Irish newspapers (1800-1970); (4) 395 newspaper publishers in the San Francisco, Calif, area (1840-1975); & (5) 2,700 US breweries (1833-1988). Results support the model of a density delay based on reasons of resource scarcity & niche packing for all five populations. 2 Tables, 5 Figures, 1 Appendix, 31 References. M. Malas. Source:SocAbs

Author(s): Hannan, Michael T.
Title: "Macrosociological Applications of Event History Analysis: State Transitions and Event Recurrences"
Source: In: Quality and Quantity 1989, 23, 3-4, Sept, pp. 351-383.
Abstract: A distinction is made in event history between state transitions - changes between structurally different states - & event recurrences - repetitions of the same kind of event. Though these are usually represented differently as stochastic processes, it is argued that the same model & methods can be used to analyze them, focusing on waiting times between events & the nature of the events that begin & end such periods. Some parametric models that can represent social systemic effects of the rates of transitions & collective events are described, emphasizing those that are easily estimated with widely available software. Illustrative examples analyzing organizational mortality & change in national political structures are presented, & an agenda for the empirical analysis of macrostructural changes is outlined. 1 Table, 3 Figures, 79 References. K. Hyatt. Source: SocAbs

Author(s): Carroll, Glenn R. ; Hannan, Michael T. ; Zucker, Lynne G.
Title: "Density Dependence in the Evolution of Populations of Newspaper Organizations"
Source: In: American Sociological Review 1989, 54, 4, Aug, pp. 524-541.
Abstract: A model of density dependence is proposed to explain regularities in the growth & decline of organizational populations. Density - the number of organizations - is assumed to be a function of the social processes of legitimation & competition. At low density, the model predicts that the legitimation process will dominate, leading to high organizational founding rates & low organizational mortality rates, whereas the opposite will occur at high levels of density, in which competition dominates. The model is tested with hazard function models using data on founding & mortality rates for 9 populations of newspaper organizations in 3 countries (total N = 5,200 newspapers) spanning the nineteenth & twentieth centuries. Analysis of founding rates provides strong empirical support for the model, while analysis of mortality rates suggests that it holds for large populations. In Combining Institutional Theory and Population Ecology: No Legitimacy, No History, Lynne G. Zucker (U of California, Los Angeles) questions the use of legitimacy as an unmeasured construct to explain increasing rates of organizational founding & competition to explain decreasing rates, & challenges the omission of historical context from models of founding. In On Using Institutional Theory in Studying Organizational Populations, Carroll & Hannan respond to these criticisms, arguing that their use of institutional theory accurately reflects its core ideas & that success in testing the model of density dependence does not hinge on direct measurement of legitimation & competition. 3 Tables, 3 Figures, 81 References. Modified HA & K. Hyatt. Source: SocAbs

Author(s): Hannan, Michael T.
Title: "Organizational Population Dynamics and Social Change"
Source: In: European Sociological Review 1988, 4, 2, Sept, pp. 95-109.
Abstract: The population ecology of organizations explores the effects of social & historical transformations on the world of organizations as well as the role of organizational population dynamics in shaping social change. This approach departs from mainstream theory by shifting focus from the organization to the population & from adaptation to selection. The developments in this approach, particularly studies of the effects of social conditions & population composition on rates of founding & mortality, are examined. Studies of diverse populations over their complete histories reveal that these rates are shaped by competitive & institutional processes. Also considered are three processes by which the dynamics of organizational populations might shape patterns of long-term social change. (1) Diversity affects the capacity of a society to respond to uncertain future changes. (2) Increases in the diversity of organizations increases the diversity of careers, which in turn might decrease inequality. (3) Processes that affect variations in numbers of organizations & forms affect levels of concentration of dominance & control in society. 70 References. HA. Source: SocAbs

Author(s): Hannan, Michael T. ; Freeman, John
Title: "The Ecology of Organizational Mortality: American Labor Unions, 1836-1985"
Source: In: American Journal of Sociology 1988, 94, 1, July, pp. 25-52.
Abstract: An analysis of the disbanding rates of the full population of US national labor unions for the period 1836-1985. The hypothesis, drawn from population ecology theory, that disbanding rates are nonmonotonic functions of the number of unions in the population is supported by evidence gleaned from union & US Labor Bureau statistics: as density rises from low to high, disbanding rates first fall but eventually rise. This pattern of effects holds when age, type of starting event, & features of the national economic, political, & social environments are controlled. 3 Tables, 4 Figures, 32 References. Modified HA. Source:SocAbs

Author(s): Herriott, Scott R. ; Freeman, John ; Hannan, Michael T.
Title: "Fitness-Set Theory in the Population Ecology of Organizations: Comment on Freeman and Hannan"
Source: In: American Journal of Sociology 1987, 92, 5, Mar, pp. 1210-1214.
Abstract: A critique of John Freeman's & Michael T. Hannan's adaptation of biological theories of population ecology - specifically, Richard Levins's "fitness-set" theory (Evolution in Changing Environments, Princeton, NJ: Princeton U Press, 1968) - to the study of organizations & environments. It is argued that in "Niche Width and the Dynamics of Organizational Populations" (see SA 31:4/83N2756), Freeman & Hannan incorrectly derived a critical prediction of their model; thus, their data on differential mortality among restaurant establishments actually invalidate rather than "strongly support" their fitness-set theory. Through both a rescaling & inversion of their measure of temporal variability, it is demonstrated that specialist, rather than generalist, organizations are favored in environments of all grain & temporal variation when fitness sets are concave. In The Population Ecology of Restaurants Revisited: Reply to Herriott, Freeman & Hannan (Cornell U, Ithaca, NY) admit that upon rechecking their data, they did uncover a minor coding error in the measure of variability used, & correct estimates are presented as errata for their original paper. However, it is argued that none of Herriott's arguments are valid, & all of the theoretical issues he raised have been discussed in a previous paper (see SA 25:5/77I8960). 1 Table, 1 Figure, 6 References. K. Hyatt. Source: SocAbs

Title: "The Ecology of Organizational Founding: American Labor Unions, 1836-1985"
Source: In: American Journal of Sociology 1987, 92, 4, Jan, pp. 910-943.
Abstract: The founding rate of national labor unions in the US for the period 1836-1985 is analyzed, & the effects of competitive processes & environmental effects on this rate are investigated. Stochastic models, embodying different assumptions about the ecology of foundings, are estimated; the best-fitting models posit that the effect of density (the number of unions in existence) & the number of recent foundings on the founding rate is curvilinear. Analysis of more complicated models reveals that the growth of industrial unions inhibited the founding rate of craft unions; however, the founding rate of industrial unions was unaffected by the number of craft unions in existence. 3 Tables, 5 Figures, 36 References. HA. Source: SocAbs