Vita Contemplativa

Abstract

I summarize my view of organization theory and then explain how it developed over my life. I stress that it arose gradually from a series of empirical tests, so that my views are based on good reasons, despite being in some ways unconventional. Early influences upon me include the non-conformist climate of my school days and the empirical ethos at the University of Aston. I have long been interested in the creation of social science. This has been informed by the philosophy of science, which emphasizes the centrality of theory and its empirical testing. My early work in the Aston programme laid the basis for commitment to functionalism and generalization. The vociferous rejection of this style of research by ideologically oriented critics led me to defend it, both theoretically and philosophically. My later work on strategy and structure led me to reject strategic choice and embrace situational determinism. I analysed these and other research topics as being within structural contingency theory. I also used this theory frequently in my business school teaching. In the USA, newer theories arose, which, collectively, fragmented organizational theory. I critiqued these theories, and this fragmentation. Moreover, I became convinced that contingency theory in its classic variant is more correct than newer variants, and offered detailed argumentation. My empirical research also found that crises of low performance triggered adaptive structural change. From that, I created organizational portfolio theory, which draws upon finance to explain performance fluctuations and the resultant organizational change and lack of change. More recently, I offered an integrated statement of structural contingency theory and ideas for its future development theoretically and methodologically.

Why the epistemologies of trust researchers matter

“…Each of these philosophies is based on a very distinctive set of epistemological assumptions. Positivism advocates scientific, objective knowledge that is based on observable, measurable facts, and claims that it can predict future events (Donaldson 1997(Donaldson , 2003(Donaldson , 2005. Critical realism proposes 'epistemological relativism', meaning a variety of types of data and methods are seen as acceptable, although critical realist research often takes the form of a retroductive, historical analysis (Reed 2005).…”

Managerialism: Born in the USAConfronting Managerialism: How the Business Elite and Their Schools Threw Our Lives Out of Balance, by LockeRobert R. and SpenderJ.-C.. London & New York: Zed Books, 2011.Managerialism: A Critique of an Ideology, by KlikauerThomas. London & New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2013.

“…In the natural sciences positivism provides a formidable tool for prediction and control of the natural environment. Business school conceptions of positivism circumscribe the ethical universe as a nonethical universe of value freedom (Donaldson, 1996(Donaldson, , 2005. The aim of positivism is to produce testable general explanations through controlled observation and methodical experimentation.…”

The Production of Managerial Knowledge and Organizational Theory: New Approaches to Writing, Producing and Consuming Theory

“…One example is a series entitled "Vita Contemplativa", run by Organization Studies (e.g. Argyris, 2003;Weick, 2004;Starbuck, 2004;Clegg, 2005;Mangham, 2005;Donaldson, 2005;Schein, 2006;Scott, 2006;Whitley, 2006;Bartunek, 2006), inviting scholars to reflect on their (intellectual) life and offer hagiographical insights:…”