Phylogenetic footprints in organizational behavior

Ulrich Witt and Georg Schwesinger

Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 2013, vol. 90, issue S, S33-S44

Abstract: An evolutionary tool kit is applied in this paper to explain how innate social behavior traits evolved in early human groups. These traits were adapted to the particular production requirements of the group in human phylogeny. They shaped the group members’ attitudes towards contributing to the group's goals and towards other group members. We argue that these attitudes are still present in modern humans and leave their “phylogenetic footprints” also in present-day organizational life. We discuss the implications of this hypothesis for problems arising in firm organizations in relation to the coordination and motivation of organization members.

Keywords: Evolution; Pre-adaptations; Group selection; Firm organization; Organizational behavior; Leadership (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: B25 D03 D23 D74 M14 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (14)

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Working Paper: Phylogenetic Footprints in Organizational Behavior (2012)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:jeborg:v:90:y:2013:i:s:p:s33-s44

DOI: 10.1016/j.jebo.2012.12.011

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