Symbolism and Organization Studies

Abstract

The roots of organization theory can be traced back to several disciplines, mostly within social sciences: economics, sociology, political sciences, and psychology. This initial mixture of influences continues in the present development of organization theory, and in studies informed by it. If anything, the eclecticism of organization theory grows, as sources of inspiration multiply, recently including also anthropology and literary theory. The positive effect of this state of affairs is an unusually high level of creativity and experimentation, both less encouraged in the parental disciplines, where norms are stricter and rules more clearly formulated. The negative effect is a relative lack of self-reflection, of awareness of the discipline’s possibilities and limitations. A successful advancement of any theoretical field requires both; creativity and experimentation need to be reinforced and consolidated by reflection and analysis. This article is such reflection directed toward one of the developments acquiring a distinct place in organization theory since the 1980s: symbolist organization studies. It is based on the assumption that a historical insight into the roots of symbolism and the routes by which it came to organization studies will help to incorporate it more fully into the body of organization theory. It is this author’s belief that such an incorporation will be highly advantageous for understanding the phenomenon of organized life, so central to the contemporary world.