Pluralism and Incommensurability in Strategic Management and Organization Theory

Research in management has become more and more differentiated and complex. In organization theory and strategic management one can find different approaches, concepts, and theories, which are not only diverse, but often give contradictory advice. Therefore, it has become difficult for both the researcher and the practitioner to find appropriate answers to theoretical and practical problems. This is especially true in a situation of incommensurability where no objective frame of reference to evalute competing perspectives exists. Although in organization theory this problem has been discussed for over 20 years, no acceptable solution has been found. Instead, as recent paradigm discussions have shown, the differences have become even greater. The purpose of this special issue is to review the current state of the pluralism discussion in organization theory and to find new ways to handle the problems of pluralism, diversity, and incommensurability. In this paper I will give an introduction to the special issue. I will explain the concept of incommensurability and will review the paradigm discussion in strategic management and organization theory. In the second part of the paper I will give an overview of the contributions to this special issue

Economics · Epistemology · Management · Management science · Management theory · Organizational theory · Sociology · Computer Science · Global and Cross-Cultural Management · Innovation and Knowledge Management · Management and Organizational Studies · Philosophy

• Corporate Governance Meets Corporate Social Responsibility

  Open Access•Rashid Zaman, Tanusree Jain et al.•Business & Society•2022

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• Toward a political conception of corporate responsibility

  Andreas Georg Scherer, Guido Palazzo•Academy of Management Review•2007

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• The Cultural Shadows of Cross Cultural Research

  Sid Lowe•Culture and Organization•2002

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• Performing interplay through intercultural simulations

  Open Access•Jasmin Mahadevan•International Journal of Cross…•2013

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• Intercultural training as paradigm juxtaposition, and the need to differentiate critical cross-cultural management studies

  Open Access•Jasmin Mahadevan•International Journal of Cross…•2024

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• The Significance of Distinctiveness

  Open Access•Georg Schreyögg, Demetrius Geiger et al.•Organization•2007

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• Managing Knowledge in Organization Studies Through Instrumentation

  Open Access•William Mckinley•Organization•2007

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• The Debate That Won't Die? Values Incommensurability, Antagonism and Theory Choice

  Open Access•Mark Tadajewski•Organization•2009

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• Production and Consumption in Organizational Knowledge

  Open Access•John Hassard, Mihaela Kelemen•Organization•2002

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• The closing of critique, pluralism and reflexivity

  Open Access•Mats Alvesson, Dan Kärreman•Human Relations•2013

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• Multiparadigm Inquiry

  Open Access•M W Lewis, Mihaela Kelemen et al.•Human Relations•2002

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• Sociology and Organization Theory

  Open Access•John Hassard•Sociology and Organization Theory•1993

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• Criticism and the Growth of Knowledge

  Open Access•Imre Lakatos, Alan Musgrave•Criticism and the Growth of…•1970

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• Conjectures and Refutations

  Karl Popper, Melitta Mew et al.•Conjectures and Refutations•2014

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• New Directions for Organization Theory

  J Pfeffer•New directions for organization…•1997

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• Strategic decision making

  Open Access•Kathleen M Eisenhardt, Mark J Zbaracki et al.•Strategic Management Journal•1992

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• Crossroads Style as Theory

  John Van Maanen•Organization Science•1995

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• Crossroads—Describing Differences in Approaches to Organization Science

  Stan Deetz, Stanley Deetz•Organization Science•1996

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• Alternative Perspectives in the Organizational Sciences

  Roger Evered, Meryl Reis Louis•Academy of Management Review•1981

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• Changing Concepts of the a Priori

  Jurgen Mittelstrass•Historical and Philosophical…•1977

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• 'Paradigm Wars'

  Open Access•Norman Jackson, Pippa Carter•Organization Studies•1993

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• The Sage Handbook of Organization Studies

  Stewart Clegg, C Hardy et al.•The SAGE Handbook of Organization…•2006

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• Redirections in Organizational Analysis

  Thomasina Borkman, M Reed•Teaching Sociology•1988

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• Overcoming Hermeticism in Organization Theory

  Open Access•John Hassard•Human Relations•1988

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• Sociological Paradigms and Organisational Analysis

  Gibson Burrell, Gareth J Morgan et al.•Sociological Paradigms and…•2021

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• Critical Theory and Methodology

  Raymond A Morrow, Raymond Morrow et al.•Critical Theory and Methodology•1994

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• Objectivity and Its Other

  Graham Knight, W Natter•Canadian Journal of Communication•1996

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• Erkenntnis und Interesse

  Jürgen Habermas•Erkenntnis und Interesse•1973

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• The Sociology of Organizations

  Paul Du Gay, Michael Reed•British Journal of Sociology•1994

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• What is Deconstruction, and Where and When Does it Take Place? Making Facts in Science, Building Cases in Law

  Stephan Fuch, Stephan Fuchs et al.•American Sociological Review•1994

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• Conceptual Foundations of Organization Theory

  Roger L M Dunbar, Edwin M Hartman et al.•Industrial and Labor Relations…•1990

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• Central Problems in Social Theory

  Open Access•Anthony Giddens•Central Problems In Social Theory…•1979

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