The knowledge-Based Approach and Organizational Economics: How Much Do They Really Differ? And How Does It Matter?

The knowledge-based approach and organizational economics are usually seen as offering opposing approaches to the explanation of organizational phenomena. Relying on a taxonomic framework from the philosophy of science, we argue that many differences between these approaches are more apparent than real. Thus, many insights associated with the knowledge-based approach can be reduced to organizational economics insights. However, not everything can be thus reduced. There is an important residual, comprising differential cognition, learning, and bounded rationality.