Knowledge frames and strategic adaptation: a temporal- orientation perspective

Observing that strategic management research originates from and reflects one end of a spectrum of psychological time variance, we explore the implications of this temporal bias for theorising and practice. Introducing a fundamental duality of psychological time based on future-time and present-time orientations, we argue that temporal bias affects the relevance of knowledge proffered in two main ways: the type of knowledge being disseminated, and the speed with which knowledge frames are produced, modified and transferred. Propositions that link temporal orientation and the speed of adaptation to frame-bending (i.e. incremental) and frame-breaking (i.e. discontinuous) change are offered. These initial propositions are extended to incorporate the effect of intra- and inter-national cultural distance on the transfer and consumption of knowledge frames (and associated practice).