Spontaneous environmental scanning

Abstract

Based on theories in cognitive psychology, psychiatry, organization theory, and empirical findings from case studies of four Swedish organizations, the author has developed a theory of the nature of spontaneous environmental scanning. The theory covers the cognitive base for this behavior and how it is influenced by organizational factors. The spontaneous environmental scanning behavior has two dimensions, focus and intensity. The focus is influenced by the preceptive strength of general structure of the organization. The intensity of the spontaneous environmental scanning is influenced by the freedom of initiative in the working conditions. Four types of spontaneous environmental scanning behavior is described in relationship to these two influencing factors. The purpose of the theory is to form a fundament to organized environmental scanning, such as Business Intelligence and Competitive Intelligence. The theory is presented in this article. In a later article in CIR the empirical finding will be presented as well as a discussion of the importance of spontaneous environmental scanning for organized environmental scanning. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.