Despite wide recognition of organizational entrainment (i.e., activities pace adjustment to catch emerging opportunity) in case studies, there is a lack of large-sample empirical evidence illustrating entrainment in project management. We examine outcome-based and process-based entrainment using survival analysis with 90,755 observations of 149 Chinese real estate firms’ residential development projects. The results suggest external environmental favorableness—as a zeitgeber—both directly accelerates the project launch pace and strengthens the deceleration effects of structural inertia and acceleration effects of resource munificence on the project launch pace. Our study contributes to organizational entrainment, flexibility-focused project management, and project launch literature.
AkaikeH. (1974). A new look at the statistical model identification. IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control, 19(6), 716–723. 10.1109/TAC.1974.1100705
2.
AllisonP. D. (1984). Event history analysis: Regression for longitudinal data. Sage Publications.
3.
AnconaD.ChongC.-L. (1996). Entrainment: Pace, cycle, and rhythm in organizational behavior. Research in Organizational Behavior, 18, 251–284.
4.
AnconaD.WallerM. J. (2007). The dance of entrainment: Temporally navigating across multiple pacers. Research in the Sociology of Work, 17, 115–146. 10.1016/S0277-2833(07)17004-7
5.
BaeJ.LeeJ. M. (2021). How technological overlap between spinouts and parent firms affects corporate venture capital investments in spinouts: The role of competitive tension. Academy of Management Journal, 64(2), 643–678. 10.5465/amj.2018.0223
6.
BajonaC.ChuT. (2010). Reforming state owned enterprises in China: Effects of WTO accession. Review of Economic Dynamics, 13(4), 800–823. 10/bwf74f
7.
BarneyJ. (1991). Firm resources and sustained competitive advantage. Journal of Management, 17(1), 99–120. 10.1177/014920639101700108
8.
BarneyJ.WrightM.KetchenD. J. (2001). The resource-based view of the firm: Ten years after 1991. Journal of Management, 27(6), 625–641. 10.1177/014920630102700601
9.
BrauerM. F.WiersemaM. F. (2012). Industry divestiture waves: How a firm’s position influences investor returns. Academy of Management Journal, 55(6), 1472–1492. 10.5465/amj.2010.1099
10.
BrownS. L.EisenhardtK. M. (1997). The art of continuous change: Linking complexity theory and time-paced evolution in relentlessly shifting organizations. Administrative Science Quarterly, 42(1), 1–34. 10.2307/2393807
11.
BuhrK. (2012). The inclusion of aviation in the EU emissions trading scheme: Temporal conditions for institutional entrepreneurship. Organization Studies, 33(11), 1565–1587. 10.1177/0170840612463324
12.
ChenM.-J.MacMillanI. C. (1992). Nonresponse and delayed response to competitive moves: The roles of competitor dependence and action irreversibility. Academy of Management Journal, 35(3), 539–570. 10.5465/256486
13.
ChenM.-J.SmithK. G.GrimmC. M. (1992). Action characteristics as predictors of competitive responses. Management Science, 38(3), 439–455. 10.1287/mnsc.38.3.439
14.
ChenW.-R. (2008). Determinants of firms’ backward- and forward-looking R&D search behavior. Organization Science, 19(4), 609–622. 10.1287/orsc.1070.0320
15.
ChiangS. (2014). Housing markets in China and policy implications: Comovement or ripple effect. China & World Economy, 22(6), 103–120. 10/gjfqqb
16.
CoxC.ChuH.SchneiderM. F.MuñozA. (2007). Parametric survival analysis and taxonomy of hazard functions for the generalized gamma distribution. Statistics in Medicine, 26(23), 4352–4374. 10/b4j6t8
17.
DelerueH.SicotteH. (2020). Resource interdependence and project termination: An analysis in the biopharmaceutical industry. International Journal of Project Management, 38(5), 256–266. 10/gjfpkk
18.
DeWenterK. L.MalatestaP. H. (2001). State-owned and privately owned firms: An empirical analysis of profitability, leverage, and labor intensity. American Economic Review, 91(1), 320–334. 10.1257/aer.91.1.320
19.
DibrellC.FaircloughS.DavisP. S. (2015). The impact of external and internal entrainment on firm innovativeness: A test of moderation. Journal of Business Research, 68(1), 19–26. 10.1016/j.jbusres.2014.05.012
20.
DilleT.HernesT.VaagaasarA. L. (2023). Stuck in temporal translation? Challenges of discrepant temporal structures in interorganizational project collaboration. Organization Studies, 44(6), 867–888. 10.1177/01708406221137841
21.
EisenhardtK. M.MartinJ. A. (2000). Dynamic capabilities: What are they?Strategic Management Journal, 21(10–11), 1105–1121. 10.1002/1097-0266(200010/11)21:10/11<1105::AID-SMJ133>3.0.CO;2-E
22.
ErikssonP. E.LarssonJ.PesämaaO. (2017). Managing complex projects in the infrastructure sector—A structural equation model for flexibility-focused project management. International Journal of Project Management, 35(8), 1512–1523. 10.1016/j.ijproman.2017.08.015
23.
FonsekaM. M.SamarakoonL. P.TianG.-L. (2012). Equity financing capacity and stock returns: Evidence from China. Journal of International Financial Markets,Institutions and Money, 22(5), 1277–1291. 10.1016/j.intfin.2012.07.004
24.
GaoQ.ZhaoT. (2018). The influence of home buyer sentiment on Chinese housing prices—Based on media text mining. International Journal of Economics and Finance, 10(9), 145. 10.5539/ijef.v10n9p145
25.
García-CanalE.GuillénM. F. (2008). Risk and the strategy of foreign location choice in regulated industries. Strategic Management Journal, 29(10), 1097–1115. 10.1002/smj.692
26.
GeraldiJ. G. (2009). Reconciling order and chaos in multi-project firms. International Journal of Managing Projects in Business, 2(1), 149–158. 10.1108/17538370910930572
27.
GeroskiP. A.MataJ.PortugalP. (2010). Founding conditions and the survival of new firms. Strategic Management Journal, 31(5), 510–529. 10.1002/smj.823
28.
GranqvistN.GustafssonR. (2016). Temporal institutional work. Academy of Management Journal, 59(3), 1009–1035. 10.5465/amj.2013.0416
29.
HannanM. T.FreemanJ. (1984). Structural inertia and organizational change. American Sociological Review, 49(2), 149–164. 10.2307/2095567
30.
HilbollingS.DekenF.BerendsH.TuertscherP. (2022). Process-based temporal coordination in multiparty collaboration for societal challenges. Strategic Organization, 20(1), 135–163. 10.1177/1476127021992705
31.
HoetkerG. (2007). The use of logit and probit models in strategic management research: Critical issues. Strategic Management Journal, 28(4), 331–343. 10.1002/smj.582
32.
HoppC.GreeneF. J. (2018). In pursuit of time: Business plan sequencing, duration and intraentrainment effects on new venture viability. Journal of Management Studies, 55(2), 320–351. 10.1111/joms.12251
33.
HuangW.-L.LinW.-Y.NingS.-L. (2020). The effect of economic policy uncertainty on China’s housing market. The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, 54, 100850. 10/gjfqqg
34.
HuffJ. O.HuffA. S.ThomasH. (1992). Strategic renewal and the interaction of cumulative stress and inertia. Strategic Management Journal, 13(S1), 55–75. 10.1002/smj.4250131006
35.
JarvenpaaS. L.VälikangasL. (2022). Toward temporally complex collaboration in an interorganizational research network. Strategic Organization, 20(1), 110–134. 10.1177/14761270211042934
36.
KangJ.KimS. J. (2020). Performance implications of incremental transition and discontinuous jump between exploration and exploitation. Strategic Management Journal, 41(6), 1083–1111. 10.1002/smj.3119
37.
KetkarH.WorkiewiczM. (2022). Power to the people: The benefits and limits of employee self-selection in organizations. Strategic Management Journal, 43(5), 935–963. 10.1002/smj.3349
38.
KhavulS.Pérez-NordtvedtL.WoodE. (2010). Organizational entrainment and international new ventures from emerging markets. Journal of Business Venturing, 25(1), 104–119. 10/dr3bzv
39.
KlassenR.HajmohammadS. (2017). Multiple temporal perspectives extend sustainable competitiveness. International Journal of Operations & Production Management, 37(11), 1600–1624. 10.1108/IJOPM-03-2016-0105
40.
KunischS.BartunekJ. M.MuellerJ.HuyQ. N. (2017). Time in strategic change research. Academy of Management Annals, 11(2), 1005–1064. 10/gftz2t
41.
KunzlF.MessnerM. (2023). Temporal structuring as self-discipline: Managing time in the budgeting process. Organization Studies, 44(9), 1439–1464. 10.1177/01708406221137840
42.
LamL. (2011). Changes in real estate investment in China after the financial tsunami. The Chinese Economy, 44(3), 59–70. 10/c2z68t
43.
LangleyA.SmallmanC.TsoukasH.Van de VenA. H. (2013). Process studies of change in organization and management: Unveiling temporality, activity, and flow. Academy of Management Journal, 56(1), 1–13. 10.5465/amj.2013.4001
44.
Le MensG.HannanM. T.PólosL. (2015). Age-related structural inertia: A distance-based approach. Organization Science, 26(3), 756–773. 10.1287/orsc.2015.0966
45.
LenfleS.LochC. (2010). Lost roots: How project management came to emphasize control over flexibility and novelty. California Management Review, 53(1), 32–55. 10.1525/cmr.2010.53.1.32
46.
LiJ.LiP.WangB. (2019). The liability of opaqueness: State ownership and the likelihood of deal completion in international acquisitions by Chinese firms. Strategic Management Journal, 40(2), 303–327. 10/gfxh65
47.
LiY.ZhangY. A.ShiW. (2020). Navigating geographic and cultural distances in international expansion: The paradoxical roles of firm size, age, and ownership. Strategic Management Journal, 41(5), 921–949. 10.1002/smj.3098
48.
LinX.RenT.WuH.XiaoY. (2021). Housing price, talent movement, and innovation output: Evidence from Chinese cities. Review of Development Economics, 25(1), 76–103. 10/gjfqqc
49.
LinZ.YangH.DemirkanI. (2007). The performance consequences of ambidexterity in strategic alliance formations: Empirical investigation and computational theorizing. Management Science, 53(10), 1645–1658. 10.1287/mnsc.1070.0712
50.
LovalloD.BrownA. L.TeeceD. J.BardoletD. (2020). Resource re-allocation capabilities in internal capital markets: The value of overcoming inertia. Strategic Management Journal, 41(8), 1365–1380. 10/ghqxsv
51.
LuJ.LiuX.WrightM.FilatotchevI. (2014). International experience and FDI location choices of Chinese firms: The moderating effects of home country government support and host country institutions. Journal of International Business Studies, 45(4), 428–449. 10.1057/jibs.2013.68
52.
MacIntoshR.BeechN.BartunekJ.MasonK.CookeB.DenyerD. (2017). Impact and management research: Exploring relationships between temporality, dialogue, reflexivity and praxis. British Journal of Management, 28(1), 3–13. 10.1111/1467-8551.12207
53.
MloziS.PesämaaO.JackS. (2018). Role of reciprocity and innovativeness on performance in a developing context: Empirical evidence from Africa. African Journal of Science, Technology,Innovation and Development, 10(1), 69–84. 10.1080/20421338.2017.1385133
54.
MoradiE.JafariS. M.DoorbashZ. M.MirzaeiA. (2021). Impact of organizational inertia on business model innovation, open innovation and corporate performance. Asia Pacific Management Review, 26(4), 171–179. 10.1016/j.apmrv.2021.01.003
55.
NachbagauerA. (2022). Synchronous and diachronic timing: Insights into managing projects from disaster management and fast-response organizations. Project Management Journal, 53(2), 146–160. 10.1177/87569728221079414
56.
OehmichenJ.FirkS.WolffM.MaybuechenF. (2021). Standing out from the crowd: Dedicated institutional investors and strategy uniqueness. Strategic Management Journal, 42(6), 1083–1108. 10.1002/smj.3269
57.
Pérez-NordtvedtL.PayneG. T.ShortJ. C.KediaB. L. (2008). An entrainment-based model of temporal organizational fit, misfit, and performance. Organization Science, 19(5), 785–801. 10/bqnf9h
58.
PesämaaO.ShohamA.KhanM. L.MuhammadI. J. (2015). The impact of social networking and learning orientation on performance. Journal of Global Marketing, 28(2), 113–131. 10.1080/08911762.2014.991016
59.
RaynardM.LuF.JingR. (2020). Reinventing the state-owned enterprise? Negotiating change during profound environmental upheaval. Academy of Management Journal, 63(4), 1300–1335. 10.5465/amj.2017.1162
60.
RoeR. A.WallerM. J.CleggS. R. (2008). Time in organizational research. Routledge.
61.
SandraD.SegersJ.GiacaloneR. (2023). How organizations can benefit from entrainment: A systematic literature review. Journal of Organizational Change Management, 36(2), 233–256. 10.1108/JOCM-01-2022-0023
62.
ShenW.CannellaA. A. (2002). Power dynamics within top management and their impacts on CEO dismissal followed by inside succession. Academy of Management Journal, 45(6), 1195–1206. 10.5465/3069434
63.
Shi, W. (Stone), &PrescottJ. E. (2012). Rhythm and entrainment of acquisition and alliance initiatives and firm performance: A temporal perspective. Organization Studies, 33(10), 1281–1310. 10/gfzs7s
64.
SöderlundJ. (2010). Knowledge entrainment and project management: The case of large-scale transformation projects. International Journal of Project Management, 28(2), 130–141. 10/cghppw
65.
StacyE. W. (1962). A generalization of the gamma distribution. The Annals of Mathematical Statistics, 33(3), 1187–1192. 10.1214/aoms/1177704481
66.
StawB. M.EpsteinL. D. (2000). What bandwagons bring: Effects of popular management techniques on corporate performance, reputation, and CEO pay. Administrative Science Quarterly, 45(3), 523–556. 10.2307/2667108
67.
StjerneI. S.SöderlundJ.MinbaevaD. (2019). Crossing times: Temporal boundary-spanning practices in interorganizational projects. International Journal of Project Management, 37(2), 347–365. 10.1016/j.ijproman.2018.09.004
68.
SvejvigP.GeraldiJ.GrexS. (2019). Accelerating time to impact: Deconstructing practices to achieve project value. International Journal of Project Management, 37(5), 784–801. 10.1016/j.ijproman.2018.12.003
69.
SunX.ZhuF.SunM.MüllerR.YuM. (2020). Facilitating efficiency and flexibility ambidexterity in project-based organizations: An exploratory study of organizational antecedents. Project Management Journal, 51(5), 556–572. 10.1177/8756972820912562
70.
SwaminathanA. (1996). Environmental conditions at founding and organizational mortality: A trial-by-fire model. Academy of Management Journal, 39(5), 1350–1377. 10/ghzk8v
71.
TeeceD. J. (2007). Explicating dynamic capabilities: The nature and microfoundations of (sustainable) enterprise performance. Strategic Management Journal, 28(13), 1319–1350. 10.1002/smj.640
TumaN. B.HannanM. T. (1984). Social dynamics: Models and methods. Academic Press.
74.
TylerB. B.CanerT. (2016). New product introductions below aspirations, slack and R&D alliances: A behavioral perspective. Strategic Management Journal, 37(5), 896–910. 10.1002/smj.2367
75.
WangH.QianC. (2011). Corporate philanthropy and corporate financial performance: The roles of stakeholder response and political access. Academy of Management Journal, 54(6), 1159–1181. 10.5465/amj.2009.0548
76.
WenL.HaoQ. (2013). Consumer investment preferences and the Chinese real estate market. International Journal of Housing Markets and Analysis, 6(2), 231–243. 10/gjfqqd
77.
WuJ.YuL.KhanZ. (2023). How do mutual dependence and power imbalance condition the effects of technological similarity on post-acquisition innovation performance over time?British Journal of Management, 34(1), 195–219. 10.1111/1467-8551.12575
78.
YamaguchiK. (1992). Accelerated failure-time regression models with a regression model of surviving fraction: An application to the analysis of “permanent employment” in Japan. Journal of the American Statistical Association, 87(418), 284–292. 10.1080/01621459.1992.10475207
79.
YuT.CannellaA. A. (2007). Rivalry between multinational enterprises: An event history approach. Academy of Management Journal, 50(3), 665–686. 10.5465/amj.2007.25527425
80.
ZacharyM. A.GianiodisP. T.PayneG. T.MarkmanG. D. (2015). Entry timing: Enduring lessons and future directions. Journal of Management, 41(5), 1388–1415. 10.1177/0149206314563982
81.
ZelnerB. A. (2009). Using simulation to interpret results from logit, probit, and other nonlinear models. Strategic Management Journal, 30(12), 1335–1348. 10.1002/smj.783
82.
ZhouH.ZhuJ. Q. (2011). Jump risk and cross section of stock returns: Evidence from China’s stock market. Journal of Economics and Finance, 35(3), 309–331. 10.1007/s12197-009-9097-z
83.
ZhuE. W.WuJ.LiuH. Y. (2019). The effect of market uncertainty on the sale timing of residential development projects. Systems Engineering—Theory & Practice, 39(2), 319–329. (in Chinese)
