Informality in organization and research : a review and a proposal

Rooke, JA, Koskela, LJ and Kagioglou, M 2009, 'Informality in organization and research : a review and a proposal' , Construction Management and Economics, 27 (10) , pp. 913-922.

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Abstract

The growing interest in informal and emergent features of organizations has accompanied changes both in the dominant forms of organization and prevailing academic views about how best to think about and research them. It is argued here that currently espoused dichotomous characterizations of both organizations and research approaches are over-simplified and misleading. A review of types of organisation research is conducted and it is suggested that the relationship between theory and data collection provides a more detailed and illuminating taxonomy than a distinction between qualitative and quantitative research. Two major distinctions are proposed: [1] between theory driven and phenomenon driven research; [2] between descriptive and prescriptive theory. It is suggested that organization theory is properly prescriptive in nature. The place of informality in organization and management studies is explicated, drawing on insights from Wittgenstein and ethnomethodology (EM). A distinction is drawn between [1] the degree of formality in particular organizational settings and [2] the necessarily informal foundations of formal organizational schemes and methods. Finally, the organization of research itself is addressed. A prescriptive theory (TFV) is suggested as a means of organizing and accounting for the research process. This suggestion serves as both [1] a proposal for research management and [2] an illustration of the relationship between theory and organization.

Item Type:	Article
Themes:	Subjects / Themes > H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > HD0028 - 0070 Management. Industrial Management Subjects / Themes > H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General) Subjects / Themes > B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > B Philosophy (General) Subjects / Themes > T Technology > TA Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General) Subjects / Themes > T Technology > TS Manufactures > TS155-194 Production management. Operations management Built and Human Environment Subjects outside of the University Themes
Schools:	Schools > School of the Built Environment > Centre for Urban Processes, Resilient Infrastructures & Sustainable Environments
Journal or Publication Title:	Construction Management and Economics
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Refereed:	Yes
ISSN:	0144-6193
Related URLs:	Publication
Depositing User:	JA Rooke
Date Deposited:	26 Oct 2009 12:43
Last Modified:	15 Feb 2022 15:35
URI:	https://usir.salford.ac.uk/id/eprint/2320

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