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Category spanning, evaluation, and performance: revised theory and test on the corporate law market


Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Paolella, LJ 
Durand, R 

Abstract

Studies suggest that category-spanning organizations receive lower evaluation and perform worse than organizations focused on a single category. We propose that (1) these effects are contingent on clients' theory of value and that as clients expect more sophisticated services, they tend to value category spanners more positively and (2) the evaluation of producers mediates the relationship between category spanning and performance. We test our hypotheses using original data on corporate legal services in three markets (London, New York City, and Paris) over the decade 2000-2010. We find that (1) category spanners receive a better evaluation, and more so when their categorical combination is more inclusive and (2) evaluation mediates significantly the relationship between category spanning and performance. This study enriches our understanding of how audiences apprehend a whole market category system and why organizations span categories.

Description

Keywords

category, evaluation, performance, mediation, law firms

Journal Title

Academy of Management Journal

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

1535-3990
1948-0989

Volume Title

59

Publisher

Academy of Management
Sponsorship
The HEC Foundation and the Society & Organizations Research Center provided financial support for this research.