Introduction to the Symposium on The Foundations of Organizing: The Contribution from Garfinkel, Goffman and Sacks

Abstract

This paper outlines a case for bringing the work of three scholars — Garfinkel (ethnomethodology), Goffman (interaction order/dramaturgy), Sacks (conversation analysis) — into the management and/or organization studies field. It specifically attends to the ways their work adds to understandings of the foundations of organizing. Further, we argue for studies of naturally occurring interaction in ways forged by these scholars and substantiate this move through touching on a number of domains of study where a contribution would be forthcoming, indicated here through the conceptual terrain of practice, identity, power and process theorizing. It is an endeavour which also problematizes the interview `method'. Crucially too, as part of this discussion, we not only summarize elements from these three scholars' legacies for our field, but also introduce the four papers selected for this Symposium Issue. We highlight the ways they take up particular threads and offer empirical illustrations of fine-grained studies of the foundations of organizing.

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