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Abstract

This article examines a case of managing local change to achieve global goals. The rapid disappearance of species worldwide has produced a completely new mission for many North American zoos: that of acting as the arks for endangered species. Such change in focus is tied to changes in technology, structure, specialization, and competitive context. From a local park offering recreation to local citizens and competing with other local amusement parks, zoos must attempt to become global arks offering conservation to endangered species and cooperating with other zoos at the national and international level. This article presents the case of one North American zoo and its director's success in overcoming the operational tensions inherent in these two competing definitions of the zoo's mission. The article concludes with a discussion of precision and ambiguity and their role in managing local change in a global context.

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The Perils of Precision: Managing Local Tensions to Achieve Global Goals

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