A Core Typology of Organizational Environments

Ray Jurkovich Typologies of organizational environments have been essentially oversimplified representations of a complex phenomenon. This article presents a core typology consisting of 64 types which can be expanded depending on the user's interest and problems. Different types of environments have consequences for the planning of strategies, operations, and tactics; coalition behavior; and decision making. Four hypotheses are used to describe organizational reactions to four entirely different environmental situations. Some of the concepts have been drawn from frequently cited works and from the author's analysis of case studies and management journals. These together with a few concepts from systems theory have been revised, defined, and discussed.