Modernismo, pós-modernismo e análise organizacional: uma introdução

The paper introduces the current debate in the human sciences between the opposing conceptual positions of "'modernism" and "postmodernism" and discusses its implications for organizational analysis. The debate focusses on the nature of "discourse"' (informati...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Cooper, Robert, Burrell, Gibson
Format: article
Status:Published version
Publication Date:2006
Country:Brasil
Institution:Fundação Getulio Vargas (FGV)
Repository:Revista de Administração de Empresas
Language:Portuguese
OAI Identifier:oai:ojs.periodicos.fgv.br:article/37086
Online Access:https://periodicos.fgv.br/rae/article/view/37086
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:Modernism
postmodernism
discourse
social systems
organization studies
Modernismo
pós-modernismo
discurso
sistemas sociais
estudos organizacionais
Description
Summary:The paper introduces the current debate in the human sciences between the opposing conceptual positions of "'modernism" and "postmodernism" and discusses its implications for organizational analysis. The debate focusses on the nature of "discourse"' (information, knowledge, communication) and its role in social systems. The discourse of modernism rests on transcendent yet anthropocentric criteria such as 'progress' and 'reason' which are varyingly exemplified in the work of Bell, Luhmann and Habermas. In contrast, postmodern discourse (represented here mainly by the work of Lyotard, Derrida. Foucault, Deleuze and Guattari) analyzes social life in terms of paradox and indeterminacy, thus rejecting the human agent as the centre of rational control and understanding. The paper then considers two contrasting views of the organizing process which follow from these opposing approaches to discourse. In the modernist model organization is viewed as a social tool and an extension of human rationality. In the postmodern view, organization is less the expression of planned thought and calculative action and a more defensive reaction to forces intrinsic to the social body which constantly threaten the stability of organized life. The implications of the latter view for orthodox organizational analysis are discussed in some detail.