Sociology and Organization Theory: Positivism, Paradigms and Postmodernity

It has been claimed that organisation theory is in a state of 'crisis'. This book traces the history of the orthodox systems theory paradigm in organisation 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 organisational research, and an epistemological framework for postmodern organisational analysis.

John Hassard is Head of the School of Management, and Professor of Organizational Behaviour, at Keele University. He previously taught at the London Business School and Cardiff University. His books include Time, work and organization (1989), The sociology of time (1990), The theory and philosophy of organizations (1990), Postmodernism and organizations (1993), and Towards a new theory of organizations (1994).