Multiplicity, Virtuality and Organization

The Contribution of Gilles Deleuze

Bibliographic Data

ID5779675
AuthorsStephen Linstead (0000-0002-1006-2921, University of York, corresponding author), Torkild Thanem (0000-0001-6020-1304, Växjö University, Sweden,, corresponding author)
Year2007
Volume28
Issue10
Pages1483-1501
Publication date2007-05-30
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueOrganization Studies (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0170-8406 • E-ISSN: 1741-3044
PublisherSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/0170840607075675
OpenAlexW2156381426
LanguageEN
Citations received40
References cited28

Formal organization is often seen as opposed or resistant to change, in theory as well as in practice. Drawing primarily on the philosophy of Gilles Deleuze we argue that the reverse is true - that organization is itself a dynamic quality and that change and organization are imbricated in each other. We expand several key concepts of this philosophy in relation to organization (the multiplicity of order and the multiplicity of organization, strata and meshworks, virtuality and multitude) all of which draw attention to the unstable but ever-present forces that subvert and disrupt, escape, exceed and change organization. This enables an understanding of organization as creatively autosubversive - not fixed, but in motion, never resting and constantly trembling

Multitude · Self-Organization · Virtuality (gaming · Information Systems Theories and Implementation · Management and Organizational Studies · Management Theory and Practice