What are the consequences for exploratory behavior in organizations in which aspirations adapt to experience?
I think it depends on whether the aspirations are adapted so that the organization is always slightly below or above aspirations. Theoretically, if an organization continually changes it aspirations to be slightly higher than it currently is, it will always be in a situation where it is willing to take some risk on exploratory behavior. Slack will not be created that would lead to inefficiencies, but the organization will always continue to engage in some exploratory research. The risk of a “failure trap” is strong if the organization becomes impatient with short term rewards (which favor exploitation of existing ideas or underexplotation of explored ideas). If the organization revises its aspiration upwards after every success they will minimize excess slack and prevent it from creating too much inefficiency. Managers may also not have enough time to attribute success to ability and “rest on their laurels”. However, adapting aspirations too rapidly may queill truly frivolous and “mad”
