A Process Theory of Organization

Erscheinungsjahr 2014
ISBN: 978-0-19-969507-2
Verlag: Oxford University Press

Buch, Englisch, 256 Seiten, Print PDF, Format (B × H): 164 mm x 241 mm, Gewicht: 532 g

This book presents a novel and comprehensive process theory of organization applicable to 'a world on the move', where connectedness prevails over size, flow prevails over stability, and temporality prevails over spatiality.The framework developed in the book draws upon process thinking in a number of areas, including process philosophy, pragmatism, phenomenology, and science and technology studies. Salient ideas from these schools are carefully woven into a process theory of organization, which makes the book not only a thought provoking theoretical contribution, but also a much-needed glimpse into the challenges of organizing in a complex and moving world. Taking a distinctly temporal view of organizational life the author shows how actors continually carve out their temporal existence from being in the flow of time. This on-going work, in which technologies, concepts, and social actors take part, is crucial for the making of any type of organizational formation. A key construct of the book is that of events, which provide force, movement, and historicity to organizational life.

The book is suitable for scholars and advanced level students in organization studies, management studies, technology studies, and sociology. It contains a number of practical examples to illustrate the theoretical framework.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Hernes, Tor

Fachgebiete

• Sozialwissenschaften Soziologie | Soziale Arbeit Spezielle Soziologie Wirtschaftssoziologie, Arbeitssoziologie, Organisationssoziologie
• Wirtschaftswissenschaften Betriebswirtschaft Organisationstheorie, Organisationssoziologie, Organisationspsychologie

Inhaltsverzeichnis

- 1: Introduction

- Part I. Some problems of organization theory, and the potential of process organization theory

- 2: Why assumptions in organization theory do not work for organizing in a world on the move

- 3: Assumptions for organizing in a world on the move

- Part II. Towards a process theory of organization

- 4: Temporality and process

- 5: Organization, meaning structures, and time

- 6: Articulatory modes and agency

- Part III. Process theory and selected aspects of organization and management

- 7: Organizational continuity and change

- 8: Managing and leading in time

- 9: Culture, identity and institutions

- 10: Some thoughts on studying process

- 11: A plea for mystery

- Annex 1. The theoretical framework in brief and an explanatory cartoon

Über Autor(innen)

Tor Hernes is Professor of Organization Theory at the Department of Organization at Copenhagen Business School and Adjunct Professor at Buskerud and Vestfold University College, Norway. He has published a dozen books as well as articles in top tier European and American journals over the last decade addressing various processual aspects of organizing and organizations. He is a leading figure in the emerging field of process thinking in organization studies and is co-editor of the Oxford Handbook of Process Philosophy and Organization Studies.