Does Darwin Belong in Business? The Danger and Comfort of the Evolutionary Metaphor

Abstract

The metaphor of Darwinism has been extensively researched and analysed in other research disciplines. The usage of the biological metaphor of “Darwinism” in IT related headlines is documented and reviewed. The use of the Darwinian metaphor in business studies has changed from its usage by Veblen and Stamp as a descriptor for the scientific method. More recently its meaning has been transformed to synonymy with the “struggle for existence”. The use of this metaphor in IT carries with it a reassurance, which can endanger consumer requirements for performance and accountability.