Sociology and Organization Theory

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. The enquiry provides a pluri-paradigm method for organizational research and an epistemological framework for postmodern organizational analysis.