Introduction To Four Major Perspectives on Organization Theory

Summary

In this video, the speaker explores four major perspectives on organization theory: prehistoric, modernist, symbolic interpretive, and postmodern. These perspectives differ in their views on reality, knowledge, and truth. Modernists believe reality can be scientifically measured through the senses, while symbolic interpretivists focus on subjective experiences and emotions. Postmodernists challenge the search for truth, emphasizing power dynamics and skepticism. The video illustrates these differences through an example of an apple falling in a forest, showing how each group would approach the situation. The speaker encourages viewers to consider these diverse perspectives in understanding organizations.

Takeaways

• 😀 The video discusses 4 major perspectives on organization theory: prehistoric, modernist, symbolic interpretive, and postmodern.
• 😀 These perspectives are associated with different theorists, and their contributions will be explained in another video.
• 😀 The perspectives are categorized based on timeline and are examined in terms of ontology and epistemology.
• 😀 Ontology refers to how reality is defined and understood, while epistemology concerns how knowledge is formed and what criteria are used.
• 😀 Modernists believe reality is what can be sensed with the five senses, and they rely on scientific measurements to understand organizations.
• 😀 Modernist theorists focus on efficiency and improving performance-related indicators in organizations, following a positivist epistemology.
• 😀 Symbolic interpretivists view reality as something beyond the five senses, shaped by emotions and experiences.
• 😀 For symbolic interpretivists, knowledge is created through individual perspectives, particularly those who experience specific situations in organizations.
• 😀 Symbolic interpretivists adopt a subjectivist ontology and anti-positivist, interpretive epistemology.
• 😀 Postmodernists reject the search for objective truth and instead focus on uncovering power dynamics in organizations.
• 😀 When posed with the question of whether an apple falling in a forest makes a sound, modernists say yes, symbolic interpretivists are uncertain, and postmodernists ask who is asking the question and why.

Q & A

What are the four major perspectives on organization theory mentioned in the video?

The four major perspectives on organization theory mentioned in the video are the prehistoric perspective, modernist perspective, symbolic interpretive perspective, and postmodern perspective.

How are the theorists in organization theory grouped historically?

The theorists are grouped based on their contributions in organization theory over time into four main groups: prehistoric, modernist, symbolic interpretive, and postmodern.

What does 'ontology' mean in the context of organization theory?

In the context of organization theory, ontology refers to how one defines what is real and their assumptions about reality.

What is 'epistemology' and how is it relevant to organization theory?

Epistemology concerns how we form knowledge or what the criteria are for knowing something. It is relevant to organization theory as it influences how different perspectives approach the understanding and creation of knowledge about organizations.

What is the core belief of the modernist perspective on reality?

The modernist perspective believes that reality is only what can be sensed with the five senses and can be measured scientifically in organizations.

What is the epistemological stance of modernists in organization theory?

Modernists have a positivist epistemology, meaning they believe knowledge can be derived through scientific measurements and objective observation.

How do symbolic interpretivists view reality?

Symbolic interpretivists believe that reality goes beyond the five senses and is shaped by emotions and experiences. They emphasize that knowledge is created from the individual’s perspective of a situation.

What is the ontology and epistemology of symbolic interpretivists?

Symbolic interpretivists have a subjectivist ontology, meaning reality is viewed differently by each person, and an anti-positivist, interpretive epistemology, meaning they focus on understanding knowledge through individuals’ experiences.

What do postmodernists focus on regarding reality and truth?

Postmodernists are not interested in discovering what the truth is; instead, they focus on uncovering who holds the power and aim to critically analyze other theories.

How do the three perspectives (modernist, symbolic interpretivist, postmodern) respond to the apple falling off a tree in a forest question?

Modernists would say 'yes, if you were there, you could measure it.' Symbolic interpretivists would say 'there is no way to know because no one was there.' Postmodernists would ask, 'Who is asking the question and why?'

Why is it important to recognize that there is no single perspective on reality in organization theory?

It is important because all these different theories contribute to forming a more nuanced and personal view of organizations, and none of them fully capture the entire picture of reality on their own.