Naming the ideological reflexively: Contesting organizational norms and practices

Abstract

In this article I develop a reflexive conception of ideology that can be applied to the study of organizations. By drawing out and making explicit the researcher's role in naming a social phenomenon as ideological, I argue that a more consistent, reflexive and critically attuned notion of the ideological can be developed. The neglect of the position of the researcher in critical conceptions of ideology stems largely from a problematic division in existing approaches between the researcher, as objective expert, and researched. As an alternative, I build on the idea of research reflexivity in organization studies to develop a notion of ideology in which the partial position of the researcher is rendered explicit. To illustrate this conception of naming the ideological, I characterize the norms and practices of Job Centres as reflecting an ideology of capitalist welfare regulation. The article presents a fresh way of conceptualizing ideology as a reflexive analytical concept which can fruitfully be brought to bear on different aspects of organizations.

Ideology in Management Studies

“…Also building on Braverman, but with a more explicitly subjectivist focus, Burawoy (1979) drew attention to how exploitation is obscured through the labour process itself, rather than explicit management ideas. Alvesson 1984;Dallyn 2014;Frenkel et al 1997;Hackley 2003;Kalev et al 2008;Rosen 1984). Thus, Burawoy used Gramsci's (1957) notion of hegemony to explain consent to management control (see also Carroll and Carson 2003;Gill and Law 1989;Hackley 2003;Musson and Duberley 2007).…”

“…Alvesson (1984); Dallyn (2014); Filby and Willmott (1988);Frenkel et al (1997);Friedman, (1977); Hackley (2003);Kalev et al (2008); Weiss and Miller (1987) Ideology as legitimation How ideology is used to legitimate authority and a specific social order. Alvesson (1984); Dallyn (2014); Filby and Willmott (1988);Frenkel et al (1997);Friedman, (1977); Hackley (2003);Kalev et al (2008); Weiss and Miller (1987) Ideology as legitimation How ideology is used to legitimate authority and a specific social order.…”

“…Similarly, the idea that management need not resort to coercive methods to ensure domination but can rely, in part, on ideational control is evident in Edwards (1979) and many subsequent authors, who use the term ideology to varying degrees (e.g. Alvesson 1984;Dallyn 2014;Frenkel et al 1997;Hackley 2003;Kalev et al 2008;Rosen 1984).…”

“…Labour process theory and some CMS. Alvesson (1984); Dallyn (2014); Filby and Willmott (1988); Frenkel et al (1997) ;Friedman, (1977); Hackley (2003);Kalev et al (2008); Weiss and Miller (1987) Ideology as legitimation How ideology is used to legitimate authority and a specific social order.…”

A escola e as identidades dos alunos do campo: um estudo a partir de Bourdieu e Althusser

“…The approach that we are taking in terms of Bourdieu as well as Althusser, does not deal directly with the theme of identity. However, in researching this subject, we have identified works that present the authors' concepts of habitus and ideology related to the identity of the individual (ADAMS, 2006;BAXTER and BRITTON, 2001;BOTTERO, 2010;DALLYN, 2014;McNAY, 1999;SORENSEN and VILLADSEN, 2015).…”