Burrell and Morgan 4 Paradigms v2lsu

7/29/2019 Burrell and Morgan 4 Paradigms v2lsu

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Burrell and MorgansBurrell and Morgans

Sociological Paradigms andSociological Paradigms andOrganizational Analysis*Organizational Analysis*

*Heinemann, London, 1979


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Main 4 debates in SociologyMain 4 debates in Sociology

Is reality given or is it a product of theIs reality given or is it a product of the

mind?mind?

Must one experience something toMust one experience something to

understand it?understand it?

Do humans have free will or are weDo humans have free will or are we

determined by our environment?determined by our environment?

Is understanding best achieved though theIs understanding best achieved though the

scientific method or direct experience?scientific method or direct experience?


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Assumptions of the nature of socialAssumptions of the nature of social

sciencescienceOntologicalOntologicalis reality external from conscious or ais reality external from conscious or a

product of individual consciousness?product of individual consciousness?

EpistemologicalEpistemologicalhow can knowledge be acquired andhow can knowledge be acquired andhow can the truth be found?how can the truth be found?

HumanHuman naturenatureare we products of our environments orare we products of our environments ordo we create our environments?do we create our environments?

MethodologicalMethodologicalwhat methods of inquiry are appropriatewhat methods of inquiry are appropriatefor finding truth? Objectivists search for universal lawsfor finding truth? Objectivists search for universal lawsto explain reality and relationships between elements.to explain reality and relationships between elements.Subjectivists focus on how individuals create, modify andSubjectivists focus on how individuals create, modify andinterpret the world. They see nature as more relativisticinterpret the world. They see nature as more relativistic

AxiologicalAxiologicalwhat is the role of values in research? Arewhat is the role of values in research? Areresearchers valueresearchers value--free vs. valuefree vs. value--ladenladen


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Ontology: Nominalism vs. RealismOntology: Nominalism vs. Realism

NominalismNominalism assumes that society is relativeassumes that society is relativeand the social world is names, concepts andand the social world is names, concepts andlabels that make individual structure realitylabels that make individual structure reality

RealismRealism assumes that the real world hasassumes that the real world hashard, intangible structures that existhard, intangible structures that existirrespective of our labels. The social worldirrespective of our labels. The social worldexists separate from the individualsexists separate from the individualsperception of it.perception of it.


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Epistemology: Positivism vs. AntiEpistemology: Positivism vs. Anti--

PositivismPositivism

PositivismPositivism seeks to explain and predict whatseeks to explain and predict what

happens in the social world by searching forhappens in the social world by searching for

patterns and relationships. Hypotheses arepatterns and relationships. Hypotheses are

developed and testeddeveloped and tested

AntiAnti--positivismpositivism rejects that observingrejects that observing

behavior can help people understand it.behavior can help people understand it.

Social science cannot create true objectiveSocial science cannot create true objectiveknowledge of any kind.knowledge of any kind.


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Human Nature: Voluntarism vs.Human Nature: Voluntarism vs.

DeterminismDeterminism

DeterminismDeterminism sees man as being determinedsees man as being determined

by the situation and environment he is inby the situation and environment he is in

VoluntarismVoluntarism sees man is completelysees man is completely

autonomous and possessing free willautonomous and possessing free will


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Method: Ideographic vs. NomotheticMethod: Ideographic vs. Nomothetic

IdeographicIdeographic focuses on detailed observationfocuses on detailed observation

of societyof society

NomotheticNomothetic involves hypotheses testing andinvolves hypotheses testing and

employs methods such as surveys and otheremploys methods such as surveys and other

standardized research toolsstandardized research tools


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Axiological: Value free vs. ValueAxiological: Value free vs. Value

ladenladen

ValueValue--freefree contends that researchers cancontends that researchers can

conduct research without the imposition ofconduct research without the imposition of

valuesvalues

ValueValue--ladenladen contends this is simplycontends this is simply

impossibleimpossible


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Assumptions about Society*Assumptions about Society*

Two theories about society: order andTwo theories about society: order and

conflictconflict

OrderOrderor integrationist view sees society asor integrationist view sees society as

relatively stable and based on consensusrelatively stable and based on consensus

ConflictConflictor coercion view sees society asor coercion view sees society as

constantly changing and disintegratingconstantly changing and disintegrating

* Based on Dahrendorfs (1959) sociological theory


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The Emergence of ParadigmsThe Emergence of Paradigms

Kuhn defines paradigms as: universally recognized scientificKuhn defines paradigms as: universally recognized scientific

achievements that for a time provide model problems and solutions toachievements that for a time provide model problems and solutions to

a community of practitioners (Kuhn, 1970; p. viii)a community of practitioners (Kuhn, 1970; p. viii)

Burrell and Morgan use the term as a: commonality of perspectiveBurrell and Morgan use the term as a: commonality of perspective

which binds the work of a group of theorists together (Burrell andwhich binds the work of a group of theorists together (Burrell andMorgan, 1979; p. 23)Morgan, 1979; p. 23)

Burrell and Morgan define four paradigms:Burrell and Morgan define four paradigms: functionalism,functionalism,

interpretivism, radical structuralisminterpretivism, radical structuralism andand radical humanismradical humanism. Others,. Others,

such as Chua (1986), prefer three primary alternatives:such as Chua (1986), prefer three primary alternatives:positivismpositivism (and(and

its various forms neofuncitonalism, postpostivism, etc.),its various forms neofuncitonalism, postpostivism, etc.), interpretivisminterpretivism

(hermeneutics, phenomenology, ethnomethodology, etc.), and(hermeneutics, phenomenology, ethnomethodology, etc.), and criticalcritical

(Marxism, Critical Social Theory, etc.)(Marxism, Critical Social Theory, etc.)


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Sociology of regulation

Sociology of radical change

Subjective Objective

Radical Humanism Radical Structuralism

Interpretivism Functionalism

French existentialismFrench existentialismAnarchistic individualismAnarchistic individualismCritical theoryCritical theory

Contemporary Mediterranean MarxismContemporary Mediterranean MarxismRussian Social TheoryRussian Social TheoryCritical theoryCritical theory

PhenomenologyPhenomenologyHermeneuticsHermeneuticsPhenomenological sociologyPhenomenological sociologyInterpretive sociologyInterpretive sociology

Integrative theoryIntegrative theorySocial system theorySocial system theoryObjectivismObjectivismInteractionism and social action theoryInteractionism and social action theoryFunctionalist sociologyFunctionalist sociology

The Burrell and Morgan Framework (1979)


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The 4 paradigms of social scienceThe 4 paradigms of social science

Functionalist paradigmFunctionalist paradigmobjective/regulationobjective/regulation

Interpretive paradigmInterpretive paradigmsubjective/regulationsubjective/regulation

Radical humanist paradigmRadical humanist paradigmsubjective /subjective /radical changeradical change

Radical structuralist paradigmRadical structuralist paradigmobjective /objective /

radical changeradical change


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Functionalist paradigmFunctionalist paradigm

Primary paradigm for organizational studyPrimary paradigm for organizational study

Assumes rational human action and believesAssumes rational human action and believes

one can understand behavior throughone can understand behavior through

hypothesis testinghypothesis testing


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Interpretive paradigmInterpretive paradigm

Seeks to explain the stability of behaviorSeeks to explain the stability of behavior

from the individual's viewpointfrom the individual's viewpoint

Researchers attempt to observe onResearchers attempt to observe on--goinggoing

processes to better understand individualprocesses to better understand individual

behavior and the spiritual nature of thebehavior and the spiritual nature of the

worldworld


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Radical humanist paradigmRadical humanist paradigm

Concerned with releasing social constraintsConcerned with releasing social constraints

that limit human potentialthat limit human potential

They see the current dominant ideologies asThey see the current dominant ideologies as

separating people from their true selvesseparating people from their true selves

This paradigm is used to justify radicalThis paradigm is used to justify radical

changechange

It is antiIt is anti--organizational in scopeorganizational in scope


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Radical structuralist paradigmRadical structuralist paradigm

Theorists see inherent structural conflictsTheorists see inherent structural conflicts

within society that generate constant changewithin society that generate constant change

through political and economic crisisthrough political and economic crisis

This is the fundamental paradigm of Marx,This is the fundamental paradigm of Marx,

Engles and LeninEngles and Lenin


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Sociological Positivism vs. GermanSociological Positivism vs. German

IdealismIdealism

Sociological positivism applies models andSociological positivism applies models and

methods from the natural sciences to themethods from the natural sciences to the

social sciencessocial sciences

German idealism sees reality in the spiritGerman idealism sees reality in the spirit

or idea and rejects the scientific methodor idea and rejects the scientific method

to understanding behaviorto understanding behavior


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Classification Criteria Positivist Interpretivist Critical

Beliefs about physical

and social reality

There is a single, tangible, fragment-

able phenomenon of interest and there

is a unique best description of any

aspect of that phenomenon.

(Orlikowski & Baroudi, 1991)

Social world is not given. It is produced

and reinforced through human actions and

interactions. Interpretations of reality

change with time, circumstances, objectives

and constituencies.

Humans become

alienated from their

potential by prevailing

economic, political and

cultural authority. Socialreality is produced by

humans, but also exists

objectively and

dominates human

experience.

Beliefs about the

notion of knowledge

Deductive logic to discover unilateral,

causal generalized relationships,

predict patterns of behavior across

situations (Orlikowski & Baroudi,

1991).

Involves getting inside the world of those

generating the social process. The models

are not unidirectional, but are circular or

reciprocally interacting models of causality.

No a priori researcher-imposed

formulations of structure, function and

attribution are assumed.

What it has been, what

it is becoming and what

it is not (Chua, 1986).

Interpretation of social

world is not enough.

Objective analysis of

circumstances is

possible through the

lenses of theoretical

framework.

Beliefs about the

relationship between

knowledge and

empirical world

If the appropriate general laws are

known and the relevant initial

conditions can be manipulated, we can

produce a desired state of affairs,

natural or social. (McCarthy, 1978)

Research is value free.

Knowledge is never value-free. Weak

constructionist view, the researcher merely

describes the phenomenon in words of the

actors. In the strong view, the researchers

interpretations intervene with the actual

meaning of the world, thus the researcher is

in part, enacting the social reality of the

actors.

Can transform both the

actor and the researcher.

Role of theory is to

initiate change in social

relations eliminating

domination.

P di Cl ifi ti C it i d t d f O lik ki d B di (1991)

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Burrell and Morgan 4 Paradigms v2lsu