Adaptive Structuration

Adaptive Structuration is a sociological theory that examines how social structures are created, maintained, and transformed through human interactions. Originating from the work of Anthony Giddens on structuration theory and further developed by DeSanctis and Poole, this concept explores how individuals use existing rules and resources to navigate and reshape social systems. Adaptive structuration emphasizes the duality of structure: while social structures constrain human actions, they are simultaneously reproduced or altered by those actions. This theory is particularly relevant in organizational studies, where it examines how technologies and group dynamics influence decision-making, power distribution, and institutional change. Sociologists use adaptive structuration to analyze the interplay between agency and structure, providing insights into how individuals and groups actively shape their social environments over time.