Knowledge and Practice: Organization Studies within a Historical and Figurational Context

Abstract

Drawing on the work of Norbert Elias, this paper argues that attention to the historical and ‘figurational’ context of organization studies is necessary in order to understand the impact of its scholarship on management practice and public policy. This perspective is used to question conventional wisdom about the ‘failings’ of the organization studies field. In particular, attention is paid to (1) questioning the argument that the impact of organization studies is limited by its pluralism; (2) related paradigm incommensurability debates; (3) challenging other supposed limitations of the field, such as a tendency toward ‘fads and fashions’. In addition, it is argued that high impact may be associated with fields that have low control, and that single overarching strategies may be ineffective in raising impact. In presenting such argument, emphasis is placed on the significance of the dominant logics of governance of particular historical eras. In so doing, the paper draws attention to the need to consider the ethical and political questions raised by attempts to increase impact.

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