Pragmatism: A lived and living philosophy. What can it offer to contemporary organization theory?

Abstract

which she is also the current head of. Bente Elkjaer has within her research taken a special interest in developing a theoretical perspective on organizational learning inspired by American Pragmatism (particularly the works by John Dewey), which she has called the "third way". Further, Bente Elkjaer was for five years (2005-09) the Editor-in-Chief of Management Learning, and she is also the Head of the Doctoral School of Organizational Learning (DOCSOL) at the university. Barbara Simpson (BSc, MSc(Hons), PhD(Auckland)) is a senior lecturer in organization studies in the University of Strathclyde Business School, Department of Management. Her research, supervision and teaching interests revolve around the topics of organizational change, innovation and creativity, which she approaches from a constructivist orientation that seeks to uncover the dynamic nature of organizational practices. In this context, she has drawn particular inspiration from the classical Pragmatist philosophers, especially George Herbert Mead. Her work is published in Organization Studies and Organization.

Why the epistemologies of trust researchers matter

“…Postmodernists aim to be radically reflexive (Cunliffe, 2003) and apply critical scrutiny to their own role as researchers in co-producing the knowledge they study. In contrast, pragmatism focuses on seeking, through a variety of methods and their combination, useful knowledge that enables successful action, providing solutions to problems and informing future practice (Dewey 1908(Dewey [1977; Elkjaer and Simpson 2011). In this perspective the social world is seen as a constant stream of action, of which the researcher is simply a part.…”

Collective voicing as a reflexive practice

“…Practical reflexivity in ADT involves learning during experience by addressing how one's assumptions and actions reform or maintain situations. Practical reflexivity is, therefore, focused on organisational transformation rather than on maintaining situations (Cunliffe and Easterby-Smith, 2004;Cunliffe and Jun, 2005;Elkjaer and Simpson, 2011; see also Freire, 1970). The question of how to construct reflexive practices for perplexed situations directed us to Augusto Boal's ideas of critical pedagogy and ADT.…”

Pragmatism, Critical Theory and Business Ethics: Converging Lines

“…The influence of Pragmatism appears most visible in studies of organizational learning (e.g., Argyris and Schön 1996;Brandi andElkjaer 2004, 2011 ), organizational routines (e.g., Cohen 2007;Winter 2013), reflective practice (e.g., Jordan 2010;Schön 1992;Yanow and Tsoukas 2009) and sensemaking (e.g., Colville et al 2014;Elkjaer and Simpson 2011;Weick 2004Weick , 2006. Following Wicks and Freeman (1998), in the past decade Pragmatism has also entered the field of business ethics (e.g., Jacobs 2004;Jensen and Sandström 2013;Singer 2010;Surie and Ashley 2008).…”