Proving organizational lock-in inefficiency often requires argument rather than proof

Evidence

With regard to the efficiency aspect, at the very least, the existence of a superior alternative that the organization is unable to pursue has to be demonstrated. A major challenge is presented by the case of potential or strategic inefficiency—that is, proving that the replicate behavioral pattern is likely to damage the organization in the future. In these cases, where no empiri cal proofs can be provided, it becomes a matter of good reasons to build a convincing case. — Jörg Sydow, Georg Schreyögg, and Jochen Koch, Organizational Path Dependence, 114

Categorization

• QUESTION: Raises the unresolved problem of how one builds a defensible case for future-inefficiency when empirical evidence is necessarily unavailable.