Sociology and Organization Theory : Positivism, Paradigms and Postmodernity

This book traces the history of systems theory in organisation studies from its foundations to its recent deconstruction by postmodernists. The analysis offers general support for recent claims that organisation theory is in 'crisis', but takes issue with the common criticism that paradigms are incommensurable.

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.