Civilization as a Theoretical Framework to Study and Analyze Organization Theory with Islamic Way Forward

Abstract

This paper posits civilization as a theoretical construct to study and analyze organization theory. Contextualization of organization theory has mostly centered on the constructs of culture and society and civilization is not posited as an organization theory episteme. This paper conceptualizes civilization as its foundational values or core essence or deep cognitive roots. The paper employs civilization as a theoretical construct in the backdrop of ethical, institutional, population ecology, and diffusion of knowledge theories of organization theory. It also seeks to posit civilization as an organizational metaphor and knowledge paradigm. It also presents a four-tiered conceptual framework which captures the value hierarchy of each of its four constituent components: civilization, culture, organizational systems and management models. After analyzing traditional organization theory along with its various faces it raises the question of what is way forward for traditional organization theory (TOT) and presents Prophetic (SAW) Organization Theory (POT) as a strong, viable alternative with supporting arguments of great scholars of East and West with special focus on Islamic, Western and Chinese civilizations.