Journal of Management Studies 28:4 July 1991 0022-2380 $3.50 INNOVATION WITHOUT CHANGE: THE CONTRADICTION BETWEEN THEORIES-ESPOUSED AND THEORIES-IN-USE KRZYSZTOF OBLOJ School of Management, Warsaw University ANNE S. DAVIS • • Management and Organization Department, Central Connecticut State University ABSTRACT The reforms in many of the socialist countries have caused enterprises to re-evaluate their structures to adapt to a more turbulent environment. In one industry, the canned and fresh fruit and vegetable industry in Poland, managers created a new association designed to serve the industry through long-range planning and analysis of the environment. Managers from 30 enterprises in this industry were surveyed. Counter to the design of the association, managers used the association for short-term problem solving. This study further reveals that managers believe the association should operate in this fashion. This reflects the industry's general failure to make use of the innovation and to adapt to change. INTRODUCTION The management practices in socialist countries of Eastern Europe are rapidly changing due to macrochanges implemented in these economies, especially in Poland and Hungary. The political and economic reforms have drawn the attention of scholars. However, most of the literature has attempted to draw general descriptions of the proposed effect of reform. Research has focused on the financial instruments and strategic mechanisms that regulate changes, par- ticularly with regard to the economy. On the surface, the scanning of literature (Adam, 1987; Czarniawska-Joerges, 1987; Goldman, 1987; Comulka, 1986; Hewett, 1988; Kornai, 1982) indicates a concentration on descriptions of these general changes. There is a shortage of empirical data or empirically grounded cases for evidence of organizational changes or their success. The economic reform in Poland is a transformation from a planned economy toward a market economy. This study explores the organizational changes under reform in Poland's canned and fresh fruits and vegetables industry. In order to make this change more understandable, the former system and the genesis of reform is briefly described. Address for reprints: Anne S. Davis, 1430 East Juana Avenue, San Leandro, CA 94577, USA