Organization Studies

Organization Mining using Online Social Networks

by Michael Fire

Co-authored with Rami puzis and Yuval Elovici

Mature, developed social networking services is one of the greatest assets todays’ organization may have. However, it... more Mature, developed social networking services is one of the greatest assets todays’ organization may have. However, it is also a non-negligible threat to the organization confidentiality. Many details on organizations are exposed on social networking websites by their members along with personal information. In this paper we analyze several commercial organizations by mining data their employees exposed on Facebook, LinkeIn, and other publicly available sources. Using a web crawler designed for this purpose we extract a network of informal social relationships of employees of a given target organization. Our results show that, using centrality analysis and machine learning techniques applied on the structure of the informal relationships network, it is possible to identify leadership roles within the organization. It is also possible to get valuable non trivial insights on the organization structure by clustering this network and gathering publicly available information on the employees within eac h cluster. Organizations willing to conceal, their structure, location and specialization of branches, the identity of leaders, etc. must enforce strict policies controlling the use of social media by their employees

Turning Practically: Broadening the Horizon

by Olav Eikeland

Introduction by Olav Eikeland and Davide Nicolini to Special Issue of Journal of Organizational Change Management,pp. 164-174, Vol.24, No. 2, 2011, on Changing Practice Through Reflection

Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to introduce the special issue, positioning the articles... more Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to introduce the special issue, positioning the articles in relation to the current “turn to practice” within organisation and management studies.

Design/methodology/approach – The paper introduces a schematic classification of ways of putting practice at the centre of the concern of social scientists depending on the interest of the researcher and his/her position with regard to the object of the research.

Findings – The paper finds that turning to practice does not necessarily, or simply, equate with becoming more engaged, or with making social science relevant, or with moving social science closer to the practical concerns of separate practitioners. It is argued that the effort should be concentrated on developing a type of theory that helps practitioners articulate what they already do, and therefore somehow know. The model for this way of theorising would therefore be not physics or astronomy but rather grammar – a discipline that although just as old, has been based traditionally on a very different relationship between knower and known.

Practical implications – The paper argues that when conceived after a grammatical model, “theory” may become a resource to be used in action and for action to produce emancipatory awareness and trigger change through critical reflection.

Originality/value – The papers in this special issue constitute an initial contribution in this direction as they indicate different ways in which theory, when developed “with” and “amid” and not “for” or even “about” practitioners, may become a powerful trigger of change and transformation.

“Habitus-Validity in Organisational Theory and Research – Social Research and Work Life Transformed”, Chapter 1

by Olav Eikeland

Chapter 1, pp.33-66 in Brøgger, Benedicte and Eikeland, Olav (eds.) (2009): Turning to Practice with Action Research, Frankfurt a.M., Peter Lang Publishers

Chapter 1. Olav Eikeland: Habitus-validity in organisational theory and research – social research and work life... more Chapter 1. Olav Eikeland: Habitus-validity in organisational theory and research – social research and work life transformed. This chapter introduces the concept of “habitus-validity”, based on the Aristotelian concept of habitus or héxis, established within social research over the last decades through the infl uence of Pierre Bourdieu. Action research requires ways of thinking about validity different from and apparently incompatible with mainstream concepts of validity, whether quantitative, qualitative, explanatory, or interpretive. The article presents and discusses the role of habitus-validity in the development of both practical and theoretical knowledge. Habitus-validity tries to conceptualize knowledge validity in ways relevant for action research, especially for an action research strengthened through a critical confrontation with the requirements and shortcomings of mainstream research methods. The concept of habitus validity is presented as the outcome of such a critical confrontation or immanent critique. The discussion springs from the author’s experience through more than 20 years of conducting projects in action research and organizational learning in Norwegian work life and an equivalent number of years of studying conventional methodology, epistemology, and philosophy of science critically.

La polyphonie organisationnelle au service de la sécurité au travail ?

by Sylvie Grosjean

Grosjean, S., Huët, R., Bonneville, L., (2010). Actes du 17e congrès de la Société française des sciences de l'information et de la communication (SFIC), Dijon, France, 23-26 juin 2010.

L’objectif de cette communication est de montrer que différents territoires de sens émergent au sein d’une... more L’objectif de cette communication est de montrer que différents territoires de sens émergent au sein d’une organisation et contribuent à ce que des savoirs liés à la sécurité soient mis en scène et actualisés. Nous convoquerons la notion de polyphonie pour appréhender les organisations comme des espaces dialogiques où s’expriment, circulent de multiples voix, où s’entrelacent des textes, le tout pouvant avoir parfois une apparence chaotique. Nous présenterons une recherche de type ethnographique afin de montrer comment cette polyphonie organisationnelle s’exprime de multiples façons via des pratiques langagières et non langagières et soutient la circulation des savoirs organisationnels. 

Normes et écriture de l'organisation

by Sylvie Grosjean

De La Broise, P., Grosjean, S (2010), Études de communication, No.34, 2010, p. 9-22.

La question des normes constitue un objet éminemment heuristique pour la recherche en sciences humaines et sociales,... more La question des normes constitue un objet éminemment heuristique pour la recherche en sciences humaines et sociales, et plus particulièrement en sciences de l’information et de la communication, sachant que l’activité sociale est tout à la fois tributaire et productrice de ces normes. De nombreux chercheurs, tant français que nord-américains, ont étudié le rôle de diverses formes de textes, d’écritures dans les organisations. Le numéro 34 d’ Études de communication invitera donc à prendre la mesure de l’écrit, celui-ci étant vu comme un objet de transaction, d’interaction, d’archivage et de pouvoir. L’entrée par l’écriture, dans l’articulation du procès et du dispositif, donnera à lire un ordre négocié de la prescription où les langages de la norme disent autant les contextes dans lesquels elle opère que la prescription elle-même. Cette livraison franco-canadienne voudrait ouvrir la discussion sur les manières dont le texte est « investi » et comment, en retour, il « investit » l’organisation. Quels sont ces textes qui, entre l’esprit et la lettre, feraient de l’action collective leur obligée ? Pourquoi, et comment, feraient-ils autorité ? Et le font-ils effectivement ?

Visibility and Voice in Organisations: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered Employee Networks

by Fiona Colgan

co-authored with Aidan McKearney

Purpose - This paper considers organisation and union lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered (LGBT) networks and... more Purpose - This paper considers organisation and union lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered (LGBT) networks and groups in the U.K. The paper explores the rationale for establishing LGBT trade union and company networks and examines the ways in which they can facilitate employee visibility and voice for LGBT organisational members.

Design/methodology/approach - Primary Research took place during a two-year period 2004-2006. The fieldwork involved in-depth interviews with 149 lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) employees and 55 management, trade union and LGB group representatives within 14 case study organisations across public, private and voluntary sectors.

Findings - The research highlights the pivotal role played by LGBT employees in driving, establishing and sustaining organisation and union networks. Findings indicate that LGBT company employee networks and LGBT union groups were highly valued by most LGB respondents as important support mechanisms and as a potential vehicle for encouraging and facilitating LGB voice and involvement. Employers and trade unions supported the development of networks and there was broad recognition of the organisational benefits that such diversity networks offered.

Practical implications - This paper provides important insights into the rationale for and potential benefits of LGBT company networks and union groups. These insights are of practical assistance to practitioners, employees and others involved in the equality and diversity management arena.

Originality/value - Despite the growing number of British based organisations which have established LGBT company networks, there has been little research or inquiry aimed at evaluating how such groups work. The research addresses this gap by focusing on organisations which are perceived as ‘good practice employers’.

Book review: Activity theory in practice: Promoting learning across boundaries and agencies

by Juan Felipe Espinosa

Book review of "Activity theory in practice: Promoting learning across boundaries and agencies" Management Learning April 2012; 43 (2)
(Note the error in the country of the University instead of Philippines, Universidad Santo Tomas is located in Santiago of Chile)

The authors of the volume have common interests in the study of practices about knowledge generation and mobilization... more The authors of the volume have common interests in the study of practices about knowledge generation and mobilization (Daniels et al., 2010: 1). This interest is addressed through the lens of what had been called ‘one of the best kept secrets of the academia’ (Roth and Lee, 2007: 186): activity theory, a theory that inherits the constructivist work of Lev Vygotsky and a whole tradition of scholars that developed what is now known as the second and third generation of the cultural historical activity theory (Engeström, 2001).

ORGANIZATION OF PLAY AND WORK

by Ozan Nadir Alakavuklar

Cristia, J. E. & Alakavuklar, O. N. (2010). Organization of play and work. Ephemera Conference – Work, Play & Bordeom (5-7 May). St. Andrews / The UK: University of St. Andrews.
(Presented by Juan F. E. Cristia)

-Abstract-
Living in a transformational age means different discourses and varying narratives about the reality... more -Abstract-
Living in a transformational age means different discourses and varying narratives about the reality of our societies. However, when we look beneath we see the same dynamics of the capitalism. Social Networking Sites (SNS) as a new toy of the last decade have a similar motivation that is represented as an “organization of play and work”. In this study, it is aimed to discuss the multidimensionality of SNS in our lives that in the end SNS turn into the new fields of capitalist relations in the name of sharing, playing, working and enjoying whilst the alternative field creations are also considered.

Keywords: Social Networking Sites, Critical Organization Studies, Capitalism

The budget as Logos: The rhetorics of the Polish press

by Monika Kostera

Co-authored with Beata Glinka
Published in: (2001) Organization 8/4, p. 647-682.

The aim of this paper is to portray the image of the state’s budget as depicted in the Polish press. We do this by... more The aim of this paper is to portray the image of the state’s budget as depicted in the Polish press. We do this by carrying out a rhetorical analysis of how the legislation of the bill was presented in the press before the shift of 1989, and after. We then look for the root metaphors of the idea of the budget. We conclude that this idea is based on ”structuralist” beliefs about change, still predominant in Polish society.

The Kitsch-Organization

by Monika Kostera

Studies in (1997) Culture & Organization (then: Cultures, Organizations and Societies) 3, p. 163-177.
This copy does not follow journal formatting or page numbers.

The paper discusses kitsch as the discourse of depriving experience of beauty and surprise. It argues that people... more The paper discusses kitsch as the discourse of depriving experience of beauty and surprise. It argues that people often construct kitsch when they organize. Three different Kitsch-Organizations are depicted: the Polish communist youth organization from the 1950-ties, a foreign enterprise operating currently in Poland, and a school of organizational behavior. Kitsch, not being equivalent to "low" or "popular" culture is a degrading construct. Adopted as a second level metaphor to the studies of organizations, it can be of use for critical social constructivist analysis.

Creativity out of Chaos: Anarchy and organizing

by Monika Kostera

Co-authored with Jerzy Kociatkiewicz
Published (1998) in Human Resource Development International 1/4: 383-398.
DOI: 10.1080/13678869800000051
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Creativity is said to be highly desired in post-modern and post-industrial organizations. Creativity and anarchy on... more Creativity is said to be highly desired in post-modern and post-industrial organizations. Creativity and anarchy on the one hand, and managerialism, on the other, can be seen as different forms of knowledge, two opposed ideals. In many organizational as well as societal reforms we currently observe it is the managerialist ideal that wins over the anarchic. In this paper, we wonder if people fear anarchy? We reflect on the possible reasons for the fear, and we also try to explain why we believe that anarchic organizing should not be avoided or feared.

Experiencing the Shadow: Organizational exclusion and denial within Experience Economy

by Monika Kostera

Co-authored with Jerzy Kociatkiewicz
Published (2010) in Organization 17/2: 257-282
DOI: 10.1177/1350508409341114
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The paper focuses on the dark and hidden aspects of experience economy events. These aspects are framed as the shadow... more The paper focuses on the dark and hidden aspects of experience economy events. These aspects are framed as the shadow in the Jungian sense, i.e. an archetype of the unconscious domain. Individuals and organizations create a shadow as a side effect of attempts at control and ordering of their identity. The paper presents stories based on ethnographically inspired field studies of experience economy events to show how staged experience produces an experiential shadow side. The process is problematized and reflected upon as a shadow producing side effect of identity production and management in experience economy settings. The possibilities for the integration of the shadow into the normal operation of experience economy organizations are considered with the help of images of the carnival and the archetype the fool. The acceptance of the paradoxical and strange side of such events they may be better understood and their dark side integrated.

Transitional Space

by Monika Kostera

Co-authored with Jerzy Kociatkiewicz
Published (2011) in Tamara Special Issue on Organizing Transitional Space, Tamara 9/3-4: 7-9.
Editorial

Liminality is the state betwixt and between more stable states and realities. In anthropology authors such as Arnold... more Liminality is the state betwixt and between more stable states and realities. In anthropology authors such as Arnold von Gennep (1909/1960), Erving Goffman (1959), and Victor Turner (1974) have described liminality as a transitory stage in rituals, especially in rites of passage (Turner, 1969). It is conceived of as a state of blurred boundaries, a mode where the usual constraints of normality, common sense, and cultural definitions do not apply, where norms are relaxed and there is a particular openness to experimentation and the creation of a sense of community. During the liminal phase there develops a special bond between those who go through it together, known as communitas – based on humanity and disregarding of structures and hierarchies of the outside culture.

The Clarity of Darkness. Experiencing Gothic Anthropology

by Monika Kostera

Co-authored with Jerzy Kociatkiewicz
Originally published (1999) in 'Notework'

There are many ways of writing ethnographies (see e.g. Van Maanen, 1988; 1995), taking the shape of realistic stories,... more There are many ways of writing ethnographies (see e.g. Van Maanen, 1988; 1995), taking the shape of realistic stories, confessions, dramatic ethnography, and many others. The authors of these accounts are rarely detached from their work and various elements of the anthropologic experience, e.g. the fieldnotes (Jackson, 1995) awake intense feelings in their authors.

The role of the anthropologist is one that inspired us to become self-reflective. Our previous experiences of field studies were more or less suffused by many and intense feelings, not only in regard to the field itself but also to our own role and the experience of doing field research in itself. Van Maanen (1995) recognizes the new heightened self-consciousness of the discipline. Our intention is to explore the experience of doing anthropologic studies, how we feel about being in the field, how the field influences us, what the label "anthropologist" may mean as an identity or as a way of self-presentation. We have carried out several explorations: we stood in places we explored at some point earlier, only this time holding up a poster saying that we were anthropologists. We observed how the place reacted to us, and what our place in the field felt like.

This self-conscious and self-reflective study is, in our view, one that can be depicted as gothic: spiritual, turned inward, dark, moody. It is the case of the anthropologist exploring him or herself in the role of the explorer. It is turning the gaze from the lit up outside to the obscure inside, to encounter the strangeness and the loneliness and address it.

We also believe that the solipsist and/or subjectivist self-reflective perspective in social sciences, or the perspective we label gothic, may offer interesting and worthwhile insights. Gothic science is: one more perspective borrowed from the arts, as many others before (functionalism, constructivism, postmodernism, etc.); a label already used by Peter and Martina Pelzer (1996) in their essay on contemporary subculture and music; a metaphor that we treat as an invitation to join in the conversation about science and being a scientist as seen inwards.

Shadows of Silence

by Monika Kostera

Co-authored with Jerzy Kociatkiewicz
Published (2003) in Ephemera 3(4): 306-313

In this paper, an observation of how silence, as well as some sound, is performed and utilized in a work setting of... more In this paper, an observation of how silence, as well as some sound, is performed and utilized in a work setting of computer programmers provides us with an opportunity to reflect more generally upon the issues of silence and communication, as well as upon some aspects of spirituality and socially constructed spaces. Our study is also an attempt to highlight benefits that the shadowing method provides for researching concepts that resist easy verbalization.

When spaces meet

by Monika Kostera

Published in: (2004) Tamara Journal for Critical Organization Inquiry, 3/3, p. 56-66.

The aim of this article is to propose a narrative (syntagmatic) theory of how a meeting between spirituality and... more The aim of this article is to propose a narrative (syntagmatic) theory of how a meeting between spirituality and organizing can occur. The theory is composed of fictive stories collected by me from various authors. It takes the form of another story, a kind of meta-story, authored by me. I look upon spirituality as awareness, and I associate it with smooth space in Deleuze and Guattari’s (1996) terminology. Organizing is to me an ongoing process, both based on and enabling communication,
and I link it to more striated space. Authors were asked to think about a meeting between those spaces represented by minimal symbols and compose a story. I have organized the narratives according to their main plot and storyline into stories of clash, enclosure, merger, and experience. In the first the spaces conflict; in the second, one turns of to be part of the other; in the third they unite in another space; and in the last they co-construct a novel understanding. I then discuss the plots,
the outcomes of the plots, and how the plots work to produce the outcome. Finally, I explore the symbolism of the encounter between spirituality and organizing, looking for possibilities of greater
understanding and inspiration.

Sherlock Holmes and the Adventure of the Rational Manager: Organizational reason and its discontents

by Monika Kostera

Co-authored with Jerzy Kociatkiewicz
forthcoming (2012) in Scandinavian Journal of Management (early view available online)
DOI: 10.1016/j.scaman.2012.01.003

Rationality has since long been one of the central been issues in the discourse of management. Among the classics... more Rationality has since long been one of the central been issues in the discourse of management. Among the classics voices propagating a reductionist rationalism dominated and there are still many contexts where such a view is taken for granted. On the other hand, critics since the times of classics have been arguing for a less linear approach to management and management thinking. However, little attention has been paid to some of the different dimensions of management rationality, such as imagination. This paper sets out to address this gap in knowledge through presenting a narrative study focused on a literary character well known for his rationality, Sherlock Holmes, and revealing that this, to many, very epitome of rationality is actually an example of an extended type of rationality, including imagination. Following the fictional protagonist of our study, we consider some aspects of its relevance for management thought and practice.

The narrative collage as research method

by Monika Kostera

Published in: (2006) STORYTELLING, SELF, SOCIETY 2/2, P. 5-27.

This paper is about the narrative collage. It discusses the narrative turn in organization studies and considers the... more This paper is about the narrative collage. It discusses the narrative turn in organization studies and considers the following questions: Why are stories important for interaction and knowledge? What can social scientists learn from storytelling
traditions? What are the different uses of stories in the study of organizations? Further, it focuses on the uses of one specific type of story in organizational research: fictive stories. There are several ways in which fiction can be used in social studies and the narrative collage is presented as a method particularly well suited for studies where imagination plays a central role. The idea of performative definitions, or linguistic statements that define the state of things (Austin, 1973/ 1993), is described as
an epistemological ground for the application of such stories.
The paper ends with a methodological section, where the narrative collage is portrayed among other similar research methods: ethnography and Action Research. Finally, a model of the process of collecting short stories for research purposes as well as in a practice setting.is proposed

BERNI A., PEZZILLO IACONO M., MARTINEZ M., Organizational Change and Dynamics of Control: An Analysis of Italian Call Center Workplace,Chinese Business Review; 1537-1506, 2012

by Marcello Martinez

MARTINEZ M., DE MARCO M., I criteri di scelta delle metodologie di IS Development: un contributo dalle teorie di progettazione organizzativa, Sinergie; 0393-5108; CUEIM. Consorzio universitario economia industriale e manageriale; Vol. 19, 2005

by Marcello Martinez