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Contribution Details

Type Journal Article
Scope Discipline-based scholarship
Title The re-construction of organization studies: Wrestling with incommensurability
Organization Unit
Authors
  • William McKinley
  • M A Mone
Item Subtype Original Work
Refereed Yes
Status Published in final form
Language
  • English
Journal Title Organization
Publisher Sage Publications
Geographical Reach international
ISSN 1350-5084
Volume 5
Number 2
Page Range 169 - 189
Date 1998
Abstract Text This paper proposes a `re-construction' of organization studies in order to deal with the chronic incommensurability that characterizes the discipline. The paper begins by discussing the issue of incommensurability between organization studies schools of thought, arguing that it represents a significant problem with which the field must cope. Ambiguity of the key constructs that form the building blocks of organization studies schools is identified as one major reason for persistent inter-school incommensurability. To help deal with the problem, we recommend the creation of a dictionary that would include democratically produced definitions of key organization studies constructs. The procedures used by the Financial Accounting Standards Board to develop new accounting standards are presented as a possible model for the dictionary-building process. The role of the dictionary in reducing inter-school incommensurability is discussed, and possible disadvantages considered. While the need to formally create construct definitions is symptomatic of the low paradigm development of organization studies, the dictionary is envisioned as a tool for increasing the future paradigm development of the field.
Digital Object Identifier 10.1177/135050849852002
Other Identification Number merlin-id:9869
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