Sociology and organization theory : positivism, paradigms and postmodernity

180 Pages·1993·7.06 MB·English

by  John Hassard

It has been claimed that organization theory is in a state of'crisis'. This
book traces the history of the orthodox systems theory paradigm in
organization studies from its foundations in positivist sociology, through
its theoretical and empirical development under structural-functionalism,
to its recent deconstruction by postmodernists. The analysis offers general
support for the 'sociology-in-crisis' thesis, but takes issue with one of its
main propositions, that paradigms are incommensurable. It is argued that
paradigms are porous rather than hermetic phenomena, a fact which has
profound implications for the theory building process. Based on
language-game philosophy, a dialectical theory is developed to illustrate
how seemingly exclusive idioms can be mediated. Two products from this
enquiry are a pluri-paradigm method for organizational research and an
epistemological framework for postmodern organizational analysis.

Cambridge Studies in Management 20
Sociology and organization theory
Cambridge Studies in Management 20
Formerly Management and Industrial Relations series
Editors
WILLIAM BROWN, University of Cambridge
ANTHONY HOPWOOD, London School of Economics
and PAUL WILLMAN, London Business School
The series focuses on the human and organizational aspects of management. It covers
the areas of organization theory and behaviour, strategy and business policy, the
organizational and social aspects of accounting, personnel and human resource
management, industrial relations and industrial sociology.
The series aims for high standards of scholarship and seeks to publish the best among
original theoretical and empirical research; innovative contributions to advancing
understanding in the area; and books which synthesize and/or review the best of current
research, and aims to make the work published in specialist journals more widely
accessible.
The books are intended for an international audience among specialists in
universities and business schools, undergraduate, graduate and MBA students, and also
for a wider readership among business practitioners and trade unionists.
For a list of titles in this series, see end of book
Sociology and organization
theory
Positivism, paradigms and postmodernity
John Hassard
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UNIVERSITY PRESS
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© Cambridge University Press 1993
This publication is in copyright. Subject to statutory exception
and to the provisions of relevant collective licensing agreements,
no reproduction of any part may take place without the written
permission of Cambridge University Press.
First published 1993
Reprinted 1994
First paperback edition 1995
A catalogue record for this publication is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloguing in Publication Data
Hassard, John, 1953—
Sociology and organization theory: positivism, paradigms and
postmodernity / John Hassard.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0 521 350344
1. Organizational sociology. 2. Paradigms (Social sciences)
I. Title.
HM131.H3346 1993
302.3'5 - dc20 92-28988 CIP
ISBN 978-0-521-3 5034-1 Hardback
ISBN 978-0-521-48458-9 Paperback
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To Roisin

Contents
List of figures and tables page x
Acknowledgements xi
Introduction 1
1 Foundations of orthodoxy 4
2 The hegemony of systems 19
3 From functionalism to fragmentation 49
4 Closed paradigms and analytical openings 76
5 Multiple paradigm research 88
6 Postmodernism and organization 111
Notes 139
Bibliography 147
Author index 159
Subject index 163
IX
Figures and Tables
FIGURES
1 Mechanical equilibrium model (Roethlisberger and Dickson
1939; Scheme for interpreting complaints and reduced work
effectiveness) page 35
2 Four paradigm model of social theory (Burrell and Morgan 1979) 66
3 Scheme for analysing assumptions about social science (Burrell
and Morgan 1979) 67
4 Sociology of regulation and the sociology of radical change
(Burrell and Morgan 1979) 67
5 Route of the research investigation 91
6 Job characteristics model (Hackman and Oldham 1980) 93
TABLES
1 Analysis of variance 95
2 Means and standard deviations 96