A Theory of Organizing

Second edition

2nd edition

Barbara Czarniawska, Professor Emerita of Management Studies, GRI, School of Business, Economics and Law, University of Gothenburg, Sweden

This new edition of ‘A Theory of Organizing’ continues to promote a processual view of organizing, and presents a theory developed by combining multiple field studies with recent theoretical insights. The author defends the constructionist perspective from idealist interpretations, demonstrating how people and machines collaborate in constructing action nets, which eventually produce both the global economy and its local translations. Helped by information technologies, global ideas travel across the world – in physical space and in cyberspace, over national, sectorial and organizational borders, within and outside organizations – and are then translated into local practices.

‘The author asks: what is the use of the research results that consist of descriptions of practices rather than the foundation of principles? And the answers that she provides are so unconventional and surprising that they make the reading of the book pure pleasure.’
– Silvia Gherardi, University of Trento, Italy

‘In this A Theory of Organizing, Barbara Czarniawska treats us to a fascinating journey. Bringing together many of her previous theoretical contributions into a coherent sum, she constructs an enticing and highly original conceptual toolbox to read a world of expansive organizing. Professor Czarniawska outlines a constructivist perspective of organizing that is both highly sophisticated and a pleasure to read. This refreshing theoretical exercise, by a major organization scholar is a must read!’
– Marie Laure Djelic, ESSEC Business School, France