Escaping the confines of organization theory (with Ian Atkin)

In this chapter we argue that the conceptual/textual representation of organization theory and analysis reflects a system of intellectual self-imprisonment. In a further case analysis, we claim that attempts by the early proponents of ‘radical separatism’ to release themselves from this confinement resulted only in their recapture. We contend that this was largely inevitable, given that radical separatism — predominantly in the guise of the original agenda for Radical Organization Theory (see Benson, 1977a; Burrell and Morgan, 1979; Clegg and Dunkerley, 1980) — failed to break with the conventions of representation within orthodox, systems-based or functionalist theories of organization. We argue further that this assessment can be applied similarly to recent attempts to specify an agenda for Critical Management Studies (see Alvesson and Willmott, 1992; Fournier and Grey, 2000; Casey, 2002; Grey, 2004).