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Postmodern perspective organizational theory
What is Organization theory: Modern, symbolic, and postmodern perspectives
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According to Hatch and Cunliffe (2006), there are three major perspectives about the study of organization theory (OT): modern, symbolic interpretive, and postmodern. Each of these perspectives comes with its own assumptions and methodologies. Hatch and Cunliffe provided an introduction text about the concepts and characteristics of the three OT perspectives. Tsoukas and Knudsen also compiled a comprehensive handbook summarizing all facets of the meta-theoretical perspectives. In this post the writer will discuss the basic concepts of three perspectives, present Hatch and Cunliffe’s reasons why a multiple perspectives approach to organization theory is important, and compare Tsoukas and Knudsen’s introduction to the Hatch and Cunliffe introduction in their books.
According to Hatch and Cunliffe, modern perspective was prevailed in 1960s and 1970s. Modernists believe that organizations are objectively real entities operating in a real world. When well-designed and managed they are systems of decision and action driven by norms of rationality, efficiency and effectiveness for stated purposes. Modernists put focus on organization theory by finding universal laws, methods and techniques of organization and control; favors rational structures, rules, standardized procedures and routine practices (Hatch & Cunliffe, 2006, p. 14). Modernists collect data through five senses: heard, smell, taste, or touch, with sense-enhancing devices such as microscope or telescope (Hatch & Cunliffe, 2006, p. 15).
Symbolic-interpretive perspective was prevailed in 1980s. Symbolic-interpretivists believe that we cannot know an external or objective existence apart from our subjective awareness of it. They think organization are continually construct...
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...sessment of fellow practitioners. Tsoukas and Knudsen (2005) commented Hatch and Cunliffe symbolic-interpretive view as meaning-making with storytelling and narration (p. 17).
In this essay the writer summarized three perspectives (modern, symbolic interpretive, and postmodern) about the OT study and pointed out the differences between Hatch and Cunliffe recommendation and Tsoukas and Knudsen’s critical approach in their book introductions.
Works Cited
Hatch, M. J., & Cunliffe, A. L. (2006). Organization Theory: Modern, Symbolic, and Postmodern Perspectives. New York: Oxford University Press.
Tsoukas, H., & Knudsen, C. (2005). Introduction: The need for meta-theoretical reflection in organizatin theory. In H. Tsoukas & C. Knudsen (Eds.), The Oxford Handbook of Organization Theory: Meta-theoretical Perspectives. New York: Oxford University Press Inc.
organization: it goes beyond that. It is a concept, a people's movement, an idea. The concept of
Bolman, L. G., & Deal, T. E. (2013). Reframing Organizations (5th ed.). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Parker, Robert Dale. How to Interpret Literature: Critical Theory for Literary and Cultural Studies. New York: Oxford, 2011. Print.
Bolman, L. G., & Deal, T. E. (2008). Reframing organizations. San Francisco: John Wiley & Sons.
Boje, D. M. , Luhman, J. T. , and Cunliffe, A. L. “ A Dialectic Perspective on the Organization
Parker, Robert Dale. How to Interpret Literature: Critical Theory for Literary and Cultural Studies. New York: Oxford UP, 2008. Print.
Every organization, whether it is an educational setting or a business setting, has the same basic principle. Each shapes and molds different ideas and ingredients to produce a good or service to deliver to external clients in the community or society. The success of the organization depends on the client satisfaction and the usefulness of what was delivered (Quality Management Plus, 30). Roger Kaufman’s Organizational Elements Model distinguishes between the different elements that make up an organization’s work.
Jones, G. R. (2010). Organizational theory, design, and change. 6th Ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall
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