Keywords
Organizational Dynamics
Event-Driven Change
How to Cite
Abstract
Event System Theory (EST), introduced by Morgeson, Mitchell, and Liu, proposed a transformative framework for analyzing how discrete, impactful events shape organizational dynamics. This review synthesizes EST’s theoretical foundations, empirical applications, and critiques to summarize its contributions and limitations. EST conceptualizes events as bounded incidents characterized by novelty, disruption, and criticality, which trigger multilevel organizational change. Empirical studies demonstrate its utility ranging from leadership emergence and crisis management to mergers and policy entrepreneurship. However, critiques highlight underdeveloped dimensions of event strength, cultural variability, and methodological challenges in operationalizing transient events. Methodologically, longitudinal designs and interdisciplinary integration provide avenues for increased rigor. Future research directions emphasize digital transformation dynamics, AI-driven event ecosystems, and cross-cultural validations. By addressing these gaps and integrating EST with complementary theories, researchers can improve the framework design to understand event-driven organizational evolution.
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