Translation Theory ‘Translated’: Three Perspectives on Translation in Organizational Research

Abstract

Translation theory has proved to be a versatile analytical lens used by scholars working from different traditions. On the basis of a systematic literature review, this study adds to understanding of the 'translations' of translation theory by identifying the distinguishing features of the most common theoretical approaches to translation within the organization and management discipline: actor-network theory, knowledge-based theory and Scandinavian institutionalism. Although each of these approaches already has borne much fruit in research, the literature is diverse and somewhat fragmented, but also overlapping. The authors discuss the ways in which the three versions of translation theory may be combined and enrich each other so as to inform future research, thereby offering a more complete understanding of translation in and across organizational settings.

Exploring resistance to implementation of welfare technology in municipal healthcare services – a longitudinal case study

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Translating value‐based health care: an experiment into healthcare governance and dialogical accountability

“…Since its origination, the actor‐network theory concept of translation has been adapted and adopted into various areas including project and organisational research as part of elaborate frameworks (e.g. Allen and May , For an overview, see Wæraas and Nielsen ). In this article, we adhere to the origin of the concept in line with the aim of actor‐network theory to travel conceptually light and use theory as a body of sensitising concepts that allow the analysis to be worked out through the generated data.…”

Mellem snak, handling, magt, skuespil og oversættelse - implementeringens dimensioner

“…Modsat det instrumentelle perspektiv, antages det her, at årsag-virkningssammenhaengene er uklare. Det skyldes blandt, at aktører udenfor organisationer påvirker organisationen, og det forventes derfor, at implementeringen ikke sker fuldt ud (Bakir & Todorovic, 2010 forhold (Noble, 1999), aktør-netvaerksteori (Latour, 1987(Latour, , 2005Callon, 1986), boundery object teori (Star & Griesemer, 1989;Star, 2010) og sociologiske teorier om oversaettelse (Czarniawska & Sevón, 1996;Frenkel, 2005, Waeraas & Nielsen, 2016Røvik, 2016;Cassel & Lee, 2017). Hver af disse teorier beskaeftiger sig med dele af fortolkning lige fra socialpsykologiske processer henover forandringer til forklaringer på, hvorfor noget har eller får den mening, som det har.…”