First-mover advantage and organizational structure

Abstract

This paper looks at first-mover advantage and its effects on organizational structure and size. The framework is the project-selection model and the key assumption is that managers are fallible so that decision-making is imperfect. The analysis suggests that when there is a first-mover advantage, decentralized and smaller organizations, such as the polyarchy and the committee, are preferable since they are speedier in making decisions despite the reduced accuracy in selecting projects. © 1993.