Talking About Organizations Podcast

Coming soon! We will discuss Mark Granovetter's 1985 paper, "Economic Action and Social Structure: The Problem of Embeddedness." He argued that economic behavior is not the product of isolated rational calculations, nor is it fully determined by social norms. Instead, individuals are embedded in a complex network of relationships that simultaneously provides structure and allows for personal discretion.

In Part 2 of the episode on Harry Braverman’s book Labor and Monopoly Capital: The Degradation of Work in the 20th Century, we consider the half-century since its publication and how things turned out rather differently from Braverman’s predictions at the end of the book. Algorithmic management, deunionization, globalization, and advances in technology have furthered conditions that Braverman argued against. Why is that, and what does it mean for his original thesis?

Zach Tan, a PhD student at MIT Sloan, dives into Harry Braverman's critical analysis of labor degradation in the 20th century. He discusses how work has become systematically de-skilled and critiques influential management theories like Taylorism. The conversation examines the impact of automation and AI on jobs, exploring how these technologies alter labor dynamics and worker autonomy. Additionally, Tan addresses class complexities, the fading middle class, and the state's role in shaping labor resistance and solidarity in modern capitalism.

Coming soon! We will examine Harry Braverman’s 1974 book Labor and Monopoly Capital: The Degradation of Work in the 20th Century. It is considered a foundational text on labor relations and the systematic ways that work has been deskilled over time and why. How well have his arguments stood the test of time to the present day?

In Part 2 of our episode on Barley, we conclude the discussion on the relationship that he drew among the institutionalized patterns of behavior in the hospitals, the actions that the radiologists and technologists undertook, and the subsequent changes to those patterns. How can we use these ideas to better understand work and technological change today? Are there other newer lenses with which we can make sense of on-going structuration?

This month we discuss a foundational work by Steven Barley on the introduction of new technologies into established organizations. His study of the fielding of CT scanners in two hospitals showed how established organization structures and patterns of behavior influenced actions undertaken by radiologists and the new CT technologists, which in turn changed the structures in the hospital. This study contributed to a greater understanding of the relationships between institutions and action.

Steven Barley’s career has produced considerable scholarship on meaningful work and change in organizations. This month’s episode will cover one of his earliest works on the introduction of CT scanners in two hospitals that greatly altered the structures of their respective radiology departments. Of interest was the story of how that restructuring took place. Stay tuned!

In Part 2 of our episode on Prasad, we shift our attention to his 2003 book chapter titled “The gaze of the other: Postcolonial theory and organizational analysis” that synthesizes the foundational works of postcolonial theory and tie it to cross-cultural challenges faced by contemporary organizations. We also discuss the implications of the theory in the two decades that followed given the significant global changes that have occurred. How well does the theory hold up given that some of its premises might have shifted?

Anupama Kondaya, an Assistant Professor at IIM Calcutta, joins the discussion on postcolonial theory's impact on management studies. The conversation delves into the critiques of traditional scientific methods and the necessity for alternative frameworks that reflect diverse cultural perspectives. They explore the psychological effects of colonialism, challenge historical notions of truth and beauty, and advocate for inclusive epistemologies. Ancient Indian poetry, the complexities of power dynamics, and the critique of modern scientific orthodoxy are also compelling topics that emerge.

Dive into Anshuman Prasad's insightful critique of postcolonial theory and its relevance in organizational analysis. Explore how Baconian science and European worldviews imposed dominance over non-Western societies. The discussion sheds light on the enduring effects of colonial legacies, revealing cross-cultural challenges in contemporary thought. It's a thought-provoking look at how history shapes our current scientific and organizational landscapes.