This paper challenges the traditional view of organizational routines as sources of inertia and inflexibility. Instead, it proposes a new theory that explains how routines can be both stable and changeable. Drawing on Latour's distinction between ostensive and performative aspects, the authors argue that routines consist of two parts: the ostensive aspect, which embodies the abstract idea or structure of the routine, and the performative aspect, which involves specific actions taken by individuals at specific times and places. The ostensive aspect enables people to guide, account for, and refer to specific performances, while the performative aspect creates, maintains, and modifies the ostensive aspect. This duality allows for variation, selection, and retention of new practices within routines, leading to a wide range of outcomes, from stability to significant change. The authors provide a revised ontology of organizational routines that better explains empirical findings and has implications for various organizational theories.This paper challenges the traditional view of organizational routines as sources of inertia and inflexibility. Instead, it proposes a new theory that explains how routines can be both stable and changeable. Drawing on Latour's distinction between ostensive and performative aspects, the authors argue that routines consist of two parts: the ostensive aspect, which embodies the abstract idea or structure of the routine, and the performative aspect, which involves specific actions taken by individuals at specific times and places. The ostensive aspect enables people to guide, account for, and refer to specific performances, while the performative aspect creates, maintains, and modifies the ostensive aspect. This duality allows for variation, selection, and retention of new practices within routines, leading to a wide range of outcomes, from stability to significant change. The authors provide a revised ontology of organizational routines that better explains empirical findings and has implications for various organizational theories.