Paperback
Theorizing in Organization Studies
Insights from Key Thinkers
9781800371026 Edward Elgar Publishing
While many books provide guidance to the construction of theory, the process of theorizing itself has been addressed far less. The aim of this book is to encourage researchers to reflect upon their subjective theorizing practices and to engage in dialogue about theorizing in organization studies. Drawing on interviews with eight key figures in the field, this book provides guidance for how to theorize, and how to do so well, using the key tools of the theorizers.
Shortlisted for the EGOS book award 2020
More Information
Critical Acclaim
Contents
More Information
While many books provide guidance to the construction of theory, the process of theorizing itself has been addressed far less. The aim of this book is to encourage researchers to reflect upon their subjective theorizing practices and to engage in dialogue about theorizing in organization studies. Drawing on interviews with eight key figures in the field, this book provides guidance for how to theorize, and how to do so well, using the key tools of the theorizers.
Providing rich insights, these interviews with Professors David Boje, Barbara Czarniawska, Kenneth Gergen, Tor Hernes, Geert Hofstede, Edgar Schein, Andrew Van de Ven and Karl Weick give an opportunity to learn from some of the most successful theorists in the field of organization studies. By addressing aspects of theorizing which seek to make it a personal and meaningful endeavour, this book goes beyond the sole aim of getting published and encourages readers to develop their own unique way of theorizing.
This book will be an invaluable tool for graduate researchers and scholars looking to refine their theorizing practices in order to produce outstanding theoretical work. Its insights will also be of use to anyone seeking to breathe new life into their work, with its insightful commentary on the practices of successful theorists.
Providing rich insights, these interviews with Professors David Boje, Barbara Czarniawska, Kenneth Gergen, Tor Hernes, Geert Hofstede, Edgar Schein, Andrew Van de Ven and Karl Weick give an opportunity to learn from some of the most successful theorists in the field of organization studies. By addressing aspects of theorizing which seek to make it a personal and meaningful endeavour, this book goes beyond the sole aim of getting published and encourages readers to develop their own unique way of theorizing.
This book will be an invaluable tool for graduate researchers and scholars looking to refine their theorizing practices in order to produce outstanding theoretical work. Its insights will also be of use to anyone seeking to breathe new life into their work, with its insightful commentary on the practices of successful theorists.
Critical Acclaim
‘This book is full of gems, too many to summarize in this brief review.. . . I found this to be a book that provoked me to stop and think more deeply about my action learning scholarship and how I attend to my experience, question it, process the provisional understandings that emerge and try to form judgements, which is what theorizing is about.’
- Action Learning: Research and Practice
‘An impressively organized and presented work of original scholarship and a unique contribution that is unreservedly recommended for college and university library collections.’
– John Taylor, Midwest Book Review
‘This book is short, fun to read, and full of good ideas. It also works well as an introduction to how to theorize in organization studies, for students as well as professors.’
– From the foreword by Richard Swedberg
‘I found the book witty, clear, passionate and well written. For me, it was an opportunity to reflect on my own academic life, my practice of theorizing and my contribution to the field while reading the book and mirroring myself through the thoughts of the “key” thinkers that I know personally or through their writing.’
– Silvia Gherardi, University of Trento, Italy
- Action Learning: Research and Practice
‘An impressively organized and presented work of original scholarship and a unique contribution that is unreservedly recommended for college and university library collections.’
– John Taylor, Midwest Book Review
‘This book is short, fun to read, and full of good ideas. It also works well as an introduction to how to theorize in organization studies, for students as well as professors.’
– From the foreword by Richard Swedberg
‘I found the book witty, clear, passionate and well written. For me, it was an opportunity to reflect on my own academic life, my practice of theorizing and my contribution to the field while reading the book and mirroring myself through the thoughts of the “key” thinkers that I know personally or through their writing.’
– Silvia Gherardi, University of Trento, Italy
Contents
Contents: Foreword by Richard Swedberg 1. Presentation and premises 2. Engaging in theorizing 3. Looking at something. Behind the scenes – interviewing Karl Weick 4. Finding your academic family 5. Making a contribution 6. Key points and practices References Index
