SPORT 1913 - 2013

part one_CHAPTER 5

Table 2: A comparison between two theoretical approaches to organizational studies (Zan 1989).

Traditional approach

Emerging approach

An organization is a phenomenon

simple

complex

An organization is

a goal oriented tool

a political arena

Its organizational behaviour is inspired to

a dominant principle of rationality different rational logics

It depends on

the environment structural analysis

the capacity of building its own environment

The researcher must privilege

processes

future (present)

past (present)

quantitative methods

qualitative methods

Table 3: Culture and symbols. A field of research (Alvesson and Berg, 1992).

Field of research

Theoretical references

Culture and symbols

Organizational sciences Political sciences (ideology, values) Cultural anthropology (documents, sagas) Linguistics (metaphors, keywords) Analytical Psychology (myths, archetypes)

Psychoanalysis (basic thoughts) Studies on religions (rites, rituals)

Conventional meanings

Levels of analysis

Phenomena

Culture

Civilization, Nation, Region, etc.

Culture: myths, rites and rituals, sagas, heroes, deep values, ideologies, etc. Symbols, environment, identity, image, etc.

Meaning production

Sector, Activity

Ideology

Place of activity

Psychodynamics

Sub-unity

Symbolism

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