Some symbolic manifestations of power in industrial
organisations.
GOLDING, David.
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GOLDING, David. (1979). Some symbolic manifestations of power in industrial
organisations. Doctoral, Sheffield Hallam University (United Kingdom)..
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SOME SYMBOLIC MANIFESTATIONS
OF POWER IN INDUSTRIAL
ORGANISATIONS
Thesis submitted to the Council
for National Academic Awards in
fulfilment of the requirements for
the degree of Doctor of Philosophy
DAVID GOLDING
Sheffield City Polytechnic
7 9 0 3 6 3 2 - 0 /
'Th
Jo a.
t<;
ABSTRACT
gome Sym bolic M a n if e s ta tio n s o f Power i n I n d u s t r i a l O r g a n is a tio n s
D avid G o ld in g
T h is t h e s i s d e r iv e s from e x p e rie n c e o f b e in g a m anager i n s e v e r a l i n d u s t r i a l o r g a n i s a ti o n s , and e s p e c i a l l y from a p e rio d s p e n t w o rk in g w ith a . b r i e f t o in te r v e n e i n a n a c t i o n r e s e a r c h fram ew o rk . The o r g a n i s a ti o n a l e x p e r ie n c e , c h a r a c te r is e d by an in c r e a s i n g d i s s e n t g e n e ra te d i n s u c c e s s iv e l o c a t i o n s , th u s prom pted an i n v e s t i g a t i o n o f th e way o f l i f e o f b e in g a m an ag er. The t h e s i s i n i n v e s t i g a t i n g t h i s way o f l i f e , c r i t i c a l l y exam ines t h e o r i e s o f power i n o r g a n i s a t i o n s , w ith a view t o e s t a b l i s h i n g a c o h e re n t th e o r e tic a l fram ew ork f o r
c o n c e p tu a lis in g th e d is s e n s io n g e n e r a te d . L im ita tio n s o f t h e o r i e s o f p o w e r-in th e l i t e r a t u r e i n f a c t m o b ilis e s a n e x a m in a tio n o f m ore'
subm erged a s p e c t s ,a s c o n s ti tu t e d i n th e s y m b o l-ric h n a tu r e o f e v e ry d a y o r g a n i s a ti o n a l l i f e , and a n argum ent t h a t such f a c t o r s c a n be
c o n c e iv e d a s m a n if e s ta tio n s o f pow er. I n f o c u s in g upon su c h subm erged a s p e c t s h o w ev er, a m ore fu n d a m e n ta l c o n c e rn w ith th e n a tu r e o f
know ledge - a s th e v e ry m eans o f ex p an d in g upon e x p e rie n c e - i s i d e n t i f i e d , and a n e x a m in a tio n o f some o f th e p ro b lem s o f know ledge i n c a r r y in g o u t s o c i a l a n a l y s i s , i s u n d e rta k e n i n p r e p a r a ti o n f o r th e i n v e s t i g a t i o n i n t o th e sy m b o lic m a n if e s ta tio n s o f pow er.
The e x a m in a tio n o f th e problem o f know ledge i s a p p ro a c h e d th ro u g h a re v ie w o f some o f th e m ore p r e v a le n t f o r m u la tio n s o f w hat i s t o co n stitu te s o c io lo g y , and th e e p is te m o lo g ic a l and m e th o d o lo g ic a l
i m p lic a tio n s o f su ch f o r m u la tio n s , ' A p e r s p e c tiv e i s d e v e lo p e d w h ich s u b s c r ib e s t o a n em erg en t and r e f l e x i v e e p iste m o lo g y and m eth o d o lo g y , and a c r i t i c a l s ta n c e i s a d o p te d to w ard s any p u r e ly e m p ir ic a l
c o n c e p tio n o f k n o w led g e. The c r i t e r i a f o r know ledge i s th u s p o s it e d a s a p ro b le m a tic to be i n v e s t ig a t e d w ith in a p a r t i c u l a r s o c i a l
e n q u ir y . P roblem s o f v a l i d i t y and r e l a t i v i s m a r e th e r e b y c o n c e iv e d a s p ro b lem s in h e r e n t i n f o rm u la tio n s and e x p a n sio n s o f e x p e rie n c e - a s th e e s se n c e o f s o c i a l b e in g - a n d n o t s p e c i f i c a l l y p ro b lem s f a c e d by s c i e n t i f i c m ethod.
The sy m b o lic m a n if e s ta tio n s o f power a r e a p p ro a c h e d by a n e x a m in a tio n o f th e d e r iv a tio n - ’o f th e a p p a re n t a ssu m p tio n s o f m an ag ers i n r e l a t i o n t o th e sy m b o lic w o rld i n w hich th e y o p e r a te , and w hich th e y c o n s t r u c t . The t h e s i s th u s i ll u m i n a te s some o f th e n e g le c te d a s p e c t s o f pow er i n o r g a n is a tio n s and augm ents th e predom inance o f w ork w h ich h a s i n v e s t i g a t e d th e more o b s e rv a b le a s p e c ts a f th e t y p e , *A h a s pow er o v e r B i f , , , , , , *
PREFACE
T h is t h e s i s c o n s t i t u t e s an a c c o u n t o f th e s tr u g g le t o u n d e rs ta n d
an a p p a re n t d is c re p a n c y betw een t h e o r i e s o f power i n o r g a n i s a ti o n s ,
a s propounded i n th e l i t e r a t u r e , and my o r g a n i s a ti o n a l e x p e r ie n c e .
The n a tu r e o f th e d is c re p a n c y h a s been a lo n g term i n t e r e s t / c o n c e r n ,
b u t was c o n c e p tu a lis e d more f o rm a lly i n th e m ost r e c e n t em ploym ent
e x p e rie n c e . T h is l a t e s t em ploym ent a s a m anager w ith a som ew hat
c o n fu s in g b r i e f to in te r v e n e i n a n a c t i o n r e s e a r c h fram ew o rk , i n
f a c t e p ito m is e d my c o n c e rn a b o u t th e d is c r e p a n c y , and th e m ajo r
p a r t o f th e m a t e r i a ls u sed i n th e t h e s i s come from t h i s p e r io d o f
em ploym ent. The t h e s i s do es h ow ever, draw upon p re v io u s
o r g a n i s a ti o n a l e x p e rie n c e , and a ls o u s e s d a ta c o l l e c t e d fro m o th e r
o r g a n is a tio n s d u rin g th e c o n s tr u c tio n o f th e t h e s i s , and t h e r e f o r e
th e r e a r e many p e o p le t o th a n k f o r th e c o n tr i b u ti o n s and h e lp th e y
have g iv e n . Some o f th e s e c a n be named - and some c a n n o tJ
M ost o f th o s e who can be named a r e i n th e academ ic w o rld , and I
w ould p a r t i c u l a r l y l i k e to th a n k my two r e s e a r c h s u p e r v i s o r s ,
D .G ow ler, P r o f e s s o r i a l F e llo w i n th e MRC S o c ia l and A p p lie d
P sy ch o lo g y U n it a t th e U n iv e r s ity o f S h e f f i e ld , and D r .H .S .G i ll ,
R ead er i n Management S tu d ie s a t S h e f f ie ld - C ity P o ly te c h n ic . I am
a ls o g r a t e f u l f o r a l l th e h e lp f u l com m ents, a d v ic e and c r i t i c i s m s
g iv e n by v a r io u s members o f s t a f f and s tu d e n ts a t S h e f f i e ld C ity
P o ly te c h n ic , and i n p a r t i c u l a r , R .G ra fto n -S m a ll, D .J o n e s , M .J.M cA uley,
D r .M .J .P e d la r , D r .J .S .S m ith , and D r .D .R .T r a n f ie ld . I n a d d i t i o n I
w ould l i k e t o th a n k W .B .S p ie rs, and T .W eb ster f o r h e l p f u l r e a d in g s
T hose who m ust rem a in anonymous b ecau se o f t h e i r c o n tin u in g
em ploym ent i n th e o r g a n is a tio n s c o n c e rn e d , a g a in I th a n k f o r th e
h e lp g iv e n (w h eth er th e y knew th e y w ere h e lp in g o r n o t ! ) d u rin g my
o r g a n i s a ti o n a l p e r io d s , and a ls o s u b s e q u e n tly f o r r e a d in g and
com m enting on v a r io u s d r a f t s o f id e a s from w hich t h i s t h e s i s h a s
b een c o n s tr u c te d . The p ro c e s s r e s u l t i n g from su ch c o n tin u in g
c o n ta c t u n d o u b ted ly fo rm s p a r t o f th e em erging m eth o d o lo g y , a lth o u g h
I b e a r f u l l r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r any s h o rtc o m in g s , n o-one b e in g
a s s o c ia te d w ith a n y th in g w hich th e y would n o t w ish t o ack n o w led g e.
T hanks a r e due to my w ife Anne who ty p e d m ost o f th e m a n u s c r ip t,
and a ls o su p p o rte d me i n v a r io u s a d d i t i o n a l w aysI A cknow ledgem ent
i s a ls o made to th e SSRC f o r th e s tu d e n ts h ip w hich made t h i s work
p o s s ib l e , a lth o u g h i t h a s to be s a id t h a t th e d i s t u r b in g te r m in a tio n
o f my s tu d e n ts h ip (s u b s e q u e n tly r e i n s t a t e d a f t e r e q u a lly d i s t u r b i n g
p r o t e s t a t i o n s and d e p u ta tio n s ) i n th e 'p a n ic c u ts e r a 1 o f 1979,
u n d o u b ted ly le d to th e p rem a tu re f o r e c lo s i n g o f some l i n e s o f
e n q u ir y .
P a r ts o f t h i s t h e s i s have a lr e a d y b een p u b lis h e d , and acknow ledgem ent
i s made t o th e e d i t o r s and p r o p r i e t e r s o f th e f o llo w in g :
MCB B ooks, ( f o r p a r t o f C h a p te r P o u r ) .
P e rs o n n e l R eview , ( f o r p a r t o f C h a p te r P iv e ) .
CONTENTS
ABSTRACT
PREFACE
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER POUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
Page
i i
i i i
INTRODUCTION - THE ORIGINS AND BASIS
OF THE THESIS 1
U n d e rta k in g S o c ia l A n a ly s is 1
M rs>P e n d le b u ry *s S p id e rs 4
Ja c k F i s h e r ’s T ie 7
Aims o f t h i s S o c ia l A n a ly s is 10
The O r g a n is a tio n s 14
The T h e s is 17
CONCEPTIONS OF THE NATURE AND STATUS
OF SOCIAL ENQUIRY .20
S c i e n t i f i c C o n c e p tio n s o f S o c ia l E n q u iry 21
T heory i n S o c io lo g y 42
S o c io lo g y a s N o t-A rt 51
S o c io lo g y a s N o t-P h ilo so p h y 57
PROBLEMS OF KNOWLEDGE AND PROCEDURE IN
SOCIAL ENQUIRY 64
The Problem o f Knowledge 64
P h en o m en o lo g ical H o rizo n s 74
S o c io lo g y a s E p is te m o lo g ic a lly E m erging
S o c ia l E n q u iry 91
Tow ards P ro c e d u re 95
THE SOCIOLOGICAL FRAMEWORK " 103
Power i n O r g a n is a tio n s 104
Power 105
C o n tro l v 110
D o m in atio n 113
THE RIGHT TO MANAGE 118
The N atu re o f M anagement -
H i s t o r i c a l D e r iv a tio n - L e g itim a c y
- A u th o r ity ■ ....
THE SOVEREIGNTY OF MANAGEMENT - 135
K in g sh ip - S o v e re ig n ty - H ie ra rc h y - Sym bolic E lem en ts - The S tr u c tu r e o f D om ination - M a n if e s ta tio n s
ESTABLISHINE 1BLISSFUL~ CLARITYf 153
A b s tr a c tio n - S i m p l if i c a t io n -
D e p o l i t i c i s a t i o n - Myth - D o m in atio n - •M a n ife s ta tio n s
INTRODUCTION - THE ORIGINS AND BASIS
OF THE THESIS 1
U n d e rta k in g S o c ia l A n a ly s is 1
M rs•P e n d le b u ry ’s S p id e rs 4
Ja c k F i s h e r ’s T ie 7
Aims o f t h i s S o c ia l A n a ly s is 10
The O r g a n is a tio n s 14
The T h e s is 17
CONCEPTIONS OF THE NATURE AND STATUS
OF SOCIAL ENQUIRY 20
S c i e n t i f i c C o n c e p tio n s o f S o c ia l E n q u iry 21
T heory i n S o cio lo g y 42
S o c io lo g y a s N o t-A rt 51
S o c io lo g y a s N o t-P h ilo so p h y 57
PROBLEMS OF KNOWLEDGE AND PROCEDURE IN
SOCIAL ENQUIRY 64
The Problem o f Knowledge 64
P h en o m en o lo g ical H o rizo n s 74
S o c io lo g y a s E p is te m o lo g ic a lly E m erging
S o c ia l E n q u iry 91
Tow ards P ro c e d u re 95
THE SOCIOLOGICAL FRAMEWORK 103
Power i n O r g a n is a tio n s 104
Power 105
C o n tro l 110
D om ination 113
CHAPTER EIGHT MAINTAINING CUSTOMARY RELATIONS Custom - M aintenance - R i t u a l - S ecrecy - S ta tu s - O p p re s siv e n e ss
181
CHAPTER NINE INSTITUTIONALISING CONTROL 204
Agency and C o n s tr a in t - Id e o lo g y - M a n if e s ta tio n s
CHAPTER TEN CONCLUSIONS 223
NOTES 237
BIBLIOGRAPHY 259
CHAPTER ORE
INTRODUCTIOR-
THE ORIGINS AND BASIS OF THE THESIS
U ndertaking; S o c ia l A n a ly s is
’P o r a l l t h e i r f i e r c e e g a l i t a r i a n i s m , t h e r e i s th u s a s i g n i f i c a n t e le m en t o f s t r a t i f i c a t i o n i n R uer s o c ie ty * T h is i s l a r g e l y b ased on th e a s c r ib e d s t a t u s o f th e dom inant c la n s ( d i l ) , whose members th e R uer h onour i n t h e i r p a s t o r a l
id io m w ith th e t i t l e ’b u l l 1 ( tu t) * "W herever th e r e i s a d i l i n a v i l l a g e , th e v i l l a g e
c l u s t e r s aro u n d him a s a h e rd o f c a t t l e c l u s t e r s aro u n d i t s b u l l . " However s t a t u s i s n o t
e x c lu s i v e l y a h e r e d i t a r y endowm ent; i t can a ls o be a c h ie v e d by o u ts ta n d in g m a s te ry o f a l l th o s e v i r i l e p u r s u i t s w hich th e w a r r io r R uer h o ld i n h ig h e s te e m .’ ^
T here a r e many o f te n a p p a r e n tly in su rm o u n ta b le p ro b lem s f a c i n g th e
p r o s p e c tiv e s o c i a l a n a l y s t , and some o f th e more im p o r ta n t o f th e s e
can be h ig h lig h te d by even a c u rs o r y e x a m in a tio n o f th e above
p a s s a g e . The e x t r a c t i s from I.M . l e v / is 1, ’S o c ia l A n th ro p o lo g y i n
P e r s p e c t iv e ’ , and c o n c e rn s some a s p e c ts o f s t r a t i f i c a t i o n i n R uer
s o c i e t y . The o r i g i n a l s tu d y o f th e R uer upon w hich L ew is d ra w s,
2
w as c a r r i e d o u t by E v a n s - P r itc h a r d .
One k in d o f q u e s tio n r a i s e d by th e p a ssa g e c o n c e rn s th e n a tu r e o f
th e r e l a t i o n s h i p betw een e g a l i t a r i a n i s m and s t r a t i f i c a t i o n , b u t i n
f a c t t h i s im m e d ia te ly r a i s e s a n o th e r k in d o f q u e s tio n c o n c e rn in g w hat
a p p e a rs t o be th e R u e r 's p e r c e p tio n and p r e s e n t a t i o n o f th e m s e lv e s a s
e g a l i t a r i a n (su g g e s te d by ’ . . . . t h e i r f i e r c e e g a l i t a r i a n i s m , . . . . ’ )
t h e i r s o c i a l r e l a t i o n s h i p s . T h is i s u n d e r la in by a w hole s e r i e s o f
q u e s tio n s su ch a s - A re e g a li ta r ia n i s m and s t r a t i f i c a t i o n b o th
s o c i a l l y a s c r i p t e d c o n c e p ts ? - Are th e y th u s s o c i a l l y a s c r i p t e d
s o l e l y by th e a n a l y s t , .o r i s e g a l i t a r i a n th e way t h a t th e N uer se e
th e m se lv e s and s t r a t i f i e d th e way t h a t th e a n a ly s t s e e s them ? What
i s th e r e l a t i o n s h i p betw een th e phenomenon and th e a n a l y t i c a l c o n c e p ts ?
- How do th e c o n c e p ts r e p r e s e n t th e s i t u a t i o n s ? - And w hat i s th e
r e l a t i o n s h i p betw een th e a n a ly s i s and s o c i a l a s c r i p t i o n , and th e Way
i n w hich th e N uer se e th in g s ? Thus i n t u r n f u r t h e r k in d s o f
q u e s tio n s a r e r a i s e d — How do we know t h a t th e a n a ly s i s r e p r e s e n t s
an A c c u r a te p i c t u r e 1? - And how do we d e fin e 1 a c c u r a c y 1? - How do
we come to a c c e p t th e a n a ly s i s a s an a c c o u n t o f th e way o f l i f e o f
th e N uer? - And in d e e d how do we come t o a c c e p t l e w i s 1 a c c o u n t o f
E v a n s - E r itc h a r d 1 s a c c o u n t? - And i s i t n e c e s s a r y t o make a d i s t i n c t i o n
betw een them ? - And w hat kind" o f d i s t i n c t i o n ?
/ ;
T hese q u e s tio n s seem t o o p e ra te a t . d i f f e r e n t l e v e l s . T h ere a r e on
th e one h a n d , q u e s tio n s c o n c e rn in g th e way i n w hich th e N uer m anage
th e r e l a t i o n s h i p betw een i n h e r i ta n c e and ac h ie v e m e n t o f d o m in an t
c la n s s t a t u s , and on th e o th e r hand th e r e a r e q u e s tio n s c o n c e rn in g
th e way i n w hich th e r e a d e r s o f th e a n a ly s i s come t o know t h a t
r e l a t i o n s h i p .
T h is t h e s i s w i l l be p a r t i c u l a r l y co n cern ed w ith th e way i n w h ich th e
seco n d ty p e o f q u e s tio n , in f lu e n c e s th e f o r m u la tio n o f th e f i r s t k in d
o f q u e s tio n , and w ith th e m ore g e n e r a l b u t fu n d a m e n ta l i s s u e s (su c h
a s th e n a tu r e o f s c ie n c e , o b j e c t i v i t y , t r u t h , e t c ) u n d e r l y i n g th e
c a r r y in g o u t s o c i a l a n a ly s i s w h i l s t i l l u m i n a ti n g some o f th e
p r e s e n tin g p ro b lem s f a c in g any su ch a n a l y s i s . My i n t e r e s t i n th e s e
k in d s o f q u e s tio n s u n d o u b te d ly stem s from my p e r s o n a l d ev elo p m en t
(and th e c irc u m s ta n c e s w hich le d t o an e n g in e e r a tte m p tin g s o c i a l
a n a ly s i s o f t h i s n a tu r e ) and i t w i l l be u s e f u l t o lo c a t e th e t h e s i s
i n my p r e v io u s e x p e rie n c e a t th e o u tse t*
My e n g in e e rin g e x p e rie n c e gave r i s e t o a c o n c e rn a b o u t th e t r a d i t i o n a l
s e p a r a ti o n b etw een d is c o v e r y and u t i l i s a t i o n . The id e a t h a t
s c i e n t i s t s w ere m ore co n cern ed w ith th e a c t u a l d is c o v e r y w h i l s t
e n g in e e rs w ere c o n c ern e d w ith a p p ly in g w hat had been d is c o v e r e d ,
seem ed t o me t o be b u i l t upon a q u e s tio n a b le c o n s tr u c ti o n o f
s p e c i a l i s a t i o n and th e d i v i s i o n o f la b o u r , w hich d id n o t c o n c e p tu a lly
f o llo w . T h is i s am ply d e m o n stra te d i n th e n o tio n o f i n v e n t io n , w hich
c o n ta in s th e s e e d s o f b o th d is c o v e r y and a p p l i c a t i o n , b u t i s
c o n c e p tu a lly s t e r i l e i f e i t h e r i s rem oved. The c o n fu s io n t h a t t h i s
c a u se s t o th e c o n c e p t o f s c i e n t i s t 'a n d e n g in e e r i s p a ra m o u n t, b u t
g e n e r a lly r e s o lv e d f o r p r a c t i c a l p u rp o se s by th e in v e n tio n s o f
e n g in e e rs b e in g d e fin e d a s o f i n f e r i o r s t a t u s t o th e in v e n tio n s o f
s c i e n t i s t s , i n a c c o rd a n c e w ith th e h ig h e r este e m i n w hich s c i e n t i s t s
a r e p la c e d i n r e l a t i o n t o e n g in e e rs ( d is c o v e ry b e in g s e e n a s m ore
e x c i t i n g - and d em an d in g .) The in v e n tio n o f th e h o v e r c r a f t i s a
good exam ple o f th e i r r e le v a n c e o f d e li n e a t i o n s b etw een d is c o v e r y
( o f th e s c i e n t i f i c p r i n c i p l e and b a s is o f h o v e rin g ) and u t i l i s a t i o n
( t r a v e l ) s in c e - u n til th e two a r e p u t to g e t h e r we d e m o n stra b ly do n o t
have a h o v e r c r a f t .
( n o tw ith s ta n d in g t h a t b o th m ig h t co m p lain a b o u t t h e i r s t a t u s i n
r e l a t i o n t o o th e r p r o f e s s io n s ) seem ed t h e r e f o r e t o be b u i l t upon a
c o n c e p tu a lly u n s u s ta in a b le sc h ism . F u rth e rm o re , th e w hole q u e s tio n
o f d is c o v e r in g w hat i s p o s s i b l e , i s so in e x o r a b ly bound up n o t o n ly
w ith w hat i s p r a c t i c a b l e (eg p r a c t i c a l p ro b lem s o f s c a le - w h e th e r
econom ic o r te c h n o lo g ic a l - su ch a s m agneto-hydrodynam ic pow er 7
g e n e r a tio n ) b u t w ith w hat i s d e s i r a b l e (eg n u c le a r pow er g e n e r a t i o n ? ) .
The s e p a r a tio n o f d is c o v e r y from u t i l i s a t i o n , th u s seem ed t o me t o be
n o t o n ly c o n c e p tu a lly u n so u n d , b u t a ls o m o ra lly q u e s ti o n a b le • In d e e d
m o ra l p ro b lem s abound su ch a s e p a r a ti o n .
T h is c o n c e rn le d t o an i n t e r e s t i n th e m eans by w hich su c h a sch ism
c o u ld be s u s ta in e d a g a in s t a p p a r e n tly o b v io u s c o n tr a d ic t o r y e v id e n c e .
Such .an i n t e r e s t to o k me i n t o a s tu d y o f th e s o c i a l w o rld , a l b e i t
spasm odic and t h e o r e t i c a l l y u n fo rm u la te d , b u t i t so o n became a p p a re n t
t h a t any a tte m p t t o make a s i m i l a r d i f f e r e n t i a t i o n betw een d is c o v e r y
and u t i l i s a t i o n o f know ledge a b o u t s o c i a l phenom ena was ev en m ore i
f r a u g h t w ith d i f f i c u l t y . I fo u n d e re d a t t h i s s ta g e on how i t was
p o s s ib le t o know a n y th in g a b o u t th e s o c i a l w o rld .
The g ro u n d in g o f • th e s e th o u g h ts and t e n t a t i v e f o r m u la tio n s i n e v e iy d a y
l i f e can be i l l u s t r a t e d by th e way i n w hich I t r i e d t o a c c o u n t f o r
some r a t h e r s tr a n g e e v e n ts r e l a t e d t o me by a n e ig h b o u r.
M rs. P e n d leb u ry * s S p id e rs
The P e n d le b u ry s ’ w ere a r e t i r e d c o u p le who had r e c e n t l y moved i n t o th e
a r e a (th e Y o rk sh ire C o a st) from th e i n d u s t r i a l n o r th e a s t . They h ad
P e n d le b u r y 's r e t i r e m e n t . Sometime a f t e r t h e i r a r r i v a l we had a
g a rd e n fe n c e c o n v e r s a tio n i n w hich M r. P e n d le b u ry was r e l a t i n g h i s
w artim e e x p e rie n c e s i n A f r ic a - an ’a l l f l i e s , s h i t and s a n d ’
e x p e rie n c e - when M rs. P e n d le b u ry a p p e a re d a t th e g a rd e n fe n c e and
e n te r e d th e c o n v e r s a tio n . She r e l a t e d how when l i v i n g i n th e n o r th
e a s t some y e a r s ago she had d is c o v e r e d an enorm ous t a r a n t u l a i n h e r
k i tc h e n . She d e s c r ib e d how sh e r a n . o u t o f th e h o u se and c a l l e d f o r a
n eig h b o u r, who cam e, and a f t e r th e i n i t i a l sh o ck m anaged t o k i l l th e
h o rre n d o u s b e a s t . She a c c o u n te d f o r th e p re s e n c e o f su c h a n o n - '
in d ig e n o u s s p e c ie s by th e f a c t t h a t she had j u s t b o u g h t a l a r g e bunch
o f b an an as from th e t r a v e l l i n g sh o p .
The t e l l i n g o f t h i s s t o r y so alarm ed my w ife who h ad a p p e a re d d u r in g
th e r e l a t i n g o f th e s t o r y , t h a t we a te no b an an as f o r s e v e r a l w eek s.
I n f a c t i t was o n ly m onths l a t e r t h a t we began t o r e - e s t a b l i s h some
k in d o f t r u s t i n g r e l a t i o n s h i p w ith o u r own t r a v e l l i n g g r e e n g r o c e r .
T h is r e - i n t e g r a t i o n was sp eed ed up ..by th e o c c u rre n c e o f a n o th e r
s i g h t i n g .
My w ife who had become somewhat p re o c c u p ie d w ith d e s tr o y in g th e
n a tio n s p o p u la tio n o f s p i d e r s , had k i l l e d an e x t r a l a r g e g a rd e n *
s p id e r and was r e l a t i n g t h i s t o th e P e n d le b u ry s i n a f u r t h e r g a rd e n
fe n c e c o n v e r s a tio n , when M rs. P e n d leb u ry in te r r u p te d w ith a n a c c o u n t
o f a t a r a n t u l a fo u n d th e p r e v io u s e v e n in g on th e c u r t a i n s i n h e r
l i v i n g room - a g a in a c c o u n te d f o r by th e in c id e n c e o f b a n a n a s. I
v i s i b l y w itn e s s e d th e d im in u tio n o f my w i f e ’s f e a r o f f i n d i n g su c h
a b i r d e a ti n g m o n o s tr o s ity , a s two sh a d e s o f c o lo u r r e t u r n e d t o h e r
c h e e k s . A t l a s t l i f e on th e Y o rk sh ire C o ast was r e t u r n i n g t o
th e. n a tu r e o f su ch c o in c id e n c e s , o r a t r o p i c a l in v a s io n o f su ch
p r o p o r tio n s .
So w hat o f M rs. P e n d le b u ry ’s a c c o u n ts ? I t d id a t l e a s t p ro v id e f u e l
f o r my e x p lo r a tio n s o f th e q u e s tio n s a b o u t know ledge e t c and I b egan
t o exam ine th e n a tu r e o f th e k in d o f q u e s tio n w hich m ig h t be p o sed
t o M rs. P e n d le b u ry t o w hich sh e m ig h t answ er - ’Yes I once had a
t a r a n t u l a i n my h o u s e .1 What k in d o f d a ta i s th e n M rs. P e n d le b u r y !s
a c c o u n t? - What can i t t e l l u s?
I t w ould n o t be d i f f i c u l t t o e n v is a g e a s c i e n t i f i c i n v e s t i g a t i o n i n t o
th e in c id e n c e o f t a r a n t u l a s im p o rte d w ith b a n a n a s. C le a r ly M rs.
P e n d le b u ry w ould re sp o n d p o s i t i v e l y t h e r e , and assu m in g t h a t sh e
in d ic a te d o n ly one o c c u rre n c e t h i s r a i s e s th e q u e s tio n o f th e e f f e c t
o f su ch d a ta on th e i n v e s t i g a t i o n . W ith th e a d d i t i o n a l know ledge t h a t
M rs. P e n d le b u ry i s i n c l in e d t o ’s e e 1 s p id e r s - c l e a r l y n o t v e ry
r e l i a b l e . Y et th e i n v e s t i g a t o r s w ould n o t have t h a t know ledge ...
and so w hat k in d o f r e s u l t s ? . . . .
A l t e r n a t i v e l y a p s y c h o a n a ly tic i n v e s t i g a t i o n m ig h t f i n d M rs.
P e n d le b u ry 1 s m u ltip le a c c o u n ts ' v e ry u s e f u l , b u t t o g e t t h a t know ledge
(o f m u ltip le in c id e n c e s ) some g r e a t e r d e g re e o f c o n ta c t w ith M rs.
p e n d le b u ry w ould be r e q u ir e d - i n a n a ly s i s ? A g ain a n i n v e s t i g a t i o n
i n t o th e r e s p o n s e s p e o p le make t o lo c a t e th e m se lv e s i n t h e i r s o c i a l
m ilie u m ig h t f i n d M rs. P e n d le b u ry ’s a c c o u n ts r e v e a li n g ( i e . i n th e way
in d iv i d u a l s c o n s tr u c t t h e i r se n se o f s e l f i n r e l a t i o n t o th e s o c i a l
w o rld i n w hich th e y e x i s t , and th e r e f l e x i v e n a tu r e o f t h i s
Such p o s tu r in g i s how ever t o p u t th e c a r t b e fo re th e h o r s e , and i n any
r e a l i n v e s t i g a t i o n th e in c id e n c e s o f M rs. P e n d le b u ry s i s th e pro b lem
t o f a c e . How i s i t p o s s ib le t o i n v e s t i g a t e th e s o c i a l w o rld g iv e n
th e p r o p e n s ity f o r re s p o n d e n ts t o g iv e an a c c o u n t w h ich may be so
ep h em eral? Sam pling i s n o t a s u f f i c i e n t a n sw e r, s in c e i n v e s t i g a t i o n s
a b o u t th e s o c i a l w o rld a r e seldom co n cern ed w ith su c h s p e c i f i c and
u n u s u a l s u b je c t s a s th e in c id e n c e o f t a r a n t u l a s . I n s o c i a l
i n v e s t i g a t i o n i t i s much more l i k e l y t h a t ev ery o n e i s h i s own M rs.
P e n d le b u ry .
B e fo re d e v e lo p in g t h i s a s p e c t f u r t h e r i t w i l l be u s e f u l t o i d e n t i f y a
p a r t i c u l a r c o n c e rn a b o u t c e r t a i n f a c e t s o f th e s o c i a l w o rld w h ich
tr o u b le d me and w ith in w hich a d i s c u s s io n o f th e c r i t e r i a f o r knov/ledge
can be l o c a t e d , t o a v o id u n n e c e s s a ry a b s t r a c t i o n .
T h is c o n c e rn a g a in stem s from p a s t e x p e r ie n c e , p a r t i c u l a r l y
o r g a n i s a ti o n a l e x p e r ie n c e , and t o i l l u s t r a t e th e g ro u n d in g o f t h i s ,
a n e v e n t o c c u rr in g i n th e Company w ith w hich I was m ost l a t t e r l y
em ployed, Wenslow M a n u fa c tu rin g C o ., w i l l be in tr o d u c e d . I n t h i s
Company I was em ployed i n a n a c t i o n - r e s e a r c h r o l e , ^ b u t seem ed t o be
m ore o r l e s s p a r a ly s e d from a c t u a l l y d o in g a n y th in g . A c e n t r a l
c o n c e rn t h e r e f o r e was t o i llu m in a te t h i s p a r a l y s i s .
J a c k F i s h e r ’s T ie ' - .
J a c k P i s h e r , th e A d m in is tr a tio n M anager i n t h i s O r g a n is a tio n , r e l a t e d
t o me how e v e ry e v e n in g when le a v in g h i s o f f i c e he w ould lo c k th e to p
l e f t - h a n d d raw er ( th e c o n f i d e n t i a l d raw e r) i n h i s d e s k , b u t b e fo r e
d o in g so w ould c a r e f u l l y p la c e a p e r f e c t l y f l a t f i l e on th e to p o f
on to p o f th e f i l e a b o u t e ig h t in c h e s back i n t o th e d ra w e r, and
v e ry c a r e f u l l y c lo s e th e d raw er so a s n o t t o d i s t u r b th e p e n c i l .
Y/hen q u e s tio n e d why he d id t h i s , he r e p l i e d t h a t i t was h i s d e t e c t i o n
sy ste m , s in c e anyone o p en in g th e d raw er w ould c a u se th e p e n c i l to
r o l l o f f th e f i l e b ack w ard s, and by o p en in g h i s d raw er s lo w ly e v e ry
m o rn in g , he c o u ld th e n d e te rm in e w h eth er, o r n o t anyone h ad b een
i n th e ' draw er d u rin g th e n i g h t . V/hen ask ed why he sh o u ld w ant t o
do t h i s he r e p l i e d , ’How lo n g have you w orked h e r e . . . ? *
Asked i f th e p e n c il was o f te n fo u n d a t th e back o f th e draw er he
nodded h i s h ead and s a id t h a t now h e ’d l e a r n t t o u se th e sy stem by
p u rp o s e ly le a v in g i n th e d raw er ite m s w hich he w ish ed t o com m unicate.
F o r in s ta n c e h e ’d r e c e n t l y p ro d u ced some f i g u r e s t h a t in d ic a te d t h a t
h i s D epartm ent was d o in g p r e t t y w e ll i n f i n a n c i a l te r m s , and h e ’d
r e a l i s e d t h a t th e b e s t way t o com m unicate t h i s f a c t was t o le a v e th e
f ig u r e s , i n th e d ra w e r. T h at gave ’th em ’ th e m essage t h a t he was on
th e b a l l - t h a t he was e f f i c i e n t and c o n s c io u s o f th e n eed to
i n s t i t u t i o n a l i s e c o n tr o l p r o c e d u r e s ... ’W ith o u t s h o u tin g a b o u t
i t . . . . ’You have to be a p s y c h o lo g i s t ’ ... ’l e t them know t h a t
y o u r e g a r d c o n tr o l sy stem s a s r o u t i n e ’ • • • • . ’n o t w o rth y o f b r in g in g
t h e i r a t t e n t i o n t o th e f a c t t h a t y o u ’r e d o in g i t I , ’
T h is a p p a re n t c o m b in a tio n o f p a ra n o ia ( i n th e a d o p tio n o f 007
m ethods i n w hat i s su p p o sed to be a r a t i o n a l exchange b a se d a r e n a )
w ith w o rk irg -th e -sy ste m ( to com m unicate to ’th em ’ ) seem ed t o h i g h l i g h t
th e e s s e n t i a l l y i d i o s y n c r a t i c and sy m b o lic n a tu r e o f th e s o c i a l w o r ld .
In d ee d th e im p o rta n c e o f t h i s sy m b o lic n a tu r e was f u r t h e r u n d e r lin e d
i n a su b se q u e n t c o n v e rs a tio n w ith Ja c k F i s h e r . S e v e ra l d ay s a f t e r th e
[image:18.613.47.559.53.614.2]D i r e c t o r ’s o f fic e # He s to p p e d f o r a few moments t o t e l l me t h a t he
was on h i s way t o se e th e M.D. I e n q u ire d why, and he s a id t o r e p o r t
upon th e d i f f i c u l t i e s h e was h a v in g w ith r e c r u i t i n g s t a f f f o r h i s
D epartm ent# I a sk e d w hat r e a s o n s he w ould g iv e f o r th e
d i f f i c u l t i e s and he s a i d , ’ oh • • • p a y , I s u p p o s e .1 I a sk ed why he
d i d n ’t j u s t t e l l th e M anaging D ir e c to r t h a t th e Company’s bad
r e p u t a t i o n a s an em ployer was a la r g e f a c to r # He la u g h e d and s a id
’you m ust be jo k in g ' • • • • 'y o u d o n ' t g iv e e x p la n a tio n s t o h im ’ • • • •
'i n f a c t you d o n ’t go i n th e r e t o t a l k - y o u go t o l i s t e n . '
He th e n drew my a t t e n t i o n to h i s t i e and s a i d , 'T h is i s how I t a l k
t o h im .' The t i e had a r a t h e r a t t r a c t i v e m o tif on i t somewhat
r e m in is c e n t o f a n A s s o c ia tio n su ch a s a p r o f e s s io n a l body o r
I n s t i t u t i o n . He a llo w e d me t o p u z z le f o r a moment and th e n tu rn e d
h i s t i e ro u n d a t r i g h t a n g le s . The m o tif was tra n s fo rm e d i n t o a
s t y l i s h O ld E n g lis h s c r o l l w hich r e a d c l e a r l y , 'P i s s O ffi '
The c o n c ern a b o u t th e p o s s i b i l i t y o f know ledge (g iv e n th e 's tr a n g e n e s s 1
o f M rs. P e n d le b u r y 's a c c o u n ts ) was th u s in c r e a s e d by a p r a c t i c a l
n e c e s s i ty f o r know ledge a b o u t th e s o o i a l w o rld stem m ing from th e
aoccunt g iv e n by Ja c k F i s h e r . T h is n e c e s s i ty stemmed f o r m e, n o t so
much from th e s tr a n g e n e s s o f J a c k F i s h e r 's a c c o u n t, i n f a c t th e a c c o u n t
seem ed 'n o r m a l' a c c o rd in g t o my e x p e rie n c e o f w hat was r e q u i r e d t o
s u rv iv e a s a m anager a t Wenslow M a n u fa c tu rin g C o . , b u t fro m th e
d i s c o n t i n u i t y o f t h a t e x p e rie n c e and a v a i l a b l e t h e o r i e s c o n c e rn in g
th e e s se n c e o f compet-ent . m em bership o f su ch o r g a n i s a ti o n s . I n
f a c t I tu rn e d t o th e l i t e r a t u r e on pow er i n o r g a n is a tio n s a s a m eans
Ja c k F i s h e r ’s w o rld t o my own p ro b lem s o f p a r a l y s i s i n t r y i n g t o
c a r r y o u t my a c t i o n r e s e a r c h b r i e f , b u t th e t h e o r i e s propounded
d id n o t seem t o f i t w ith my e x p e r ie n c e , g e n e r a tin g in s t e a d a f e e l i n g
t h a t p e rh a p s a f t e r a l l , I was th e r e a l Mrs* P en d leb u ry *
T h is th e n fo rm s th e s t a r t i n g p o in t o f t h i s th e s is * T hese a r e some
o f t h e f a c t o r s w hich le d to me i n v e s t i g a t i n g th e ’way o f l i f e ’ o f
m anagers i n o r g a n is a tio n s su ch a s Wenslow M a n u fa c tu rin g Co*, a s a
m eans o f f o r m u la tin g my e x p e rie n c e a b o u t c o n c e rn s su c h a s e x e m p lifie d
by th e Ja c k F is h e r s t o r y , and t o a rg u in g t h a t su ch i n c i d e n t s can be
re g a rd e d a s m a n if e s ta tio n s o f pover i n o r g a n is a tio n s * The m ore u n d e r
ly in g c o n c ern w ith know led g e, p a r t i c u l a r l y i n view o f th e i d e n t i f i
c a ti o n o f th e im p o rta n c e o f th e i d i o s y n c r a t i c , sy m b o lic w o rld
in d ic a te d by th e J a c k F is h e r s to r y su g g e ste d t h a t th e i n v e s t i g a t i o n
w ould have to be u n d e rta k e n i n a m anner w hich t r e a t e d e p iste m o lo g y
and m ethodology a s p ro b le m a tic *
Aims o f t h i s S o c ia l A n a ly s is
The is s u e s r a i s e d i n th e two s t o r i e s o f Mrs* P e n d le b u ry an d J a c k
F i s h e r seemed th e n to c a p tu r e th e e sse n c e o f some o f th e p ro b lem s
f a c i n g s o c i a l a n a l y s i s , on th e one hand d e v e lo p in g u n d e rs ta n d in g
o f s o c i a l l i f e by c o n c e p tu a lis in g and f o r m u la tin g th e ways o f v l i f e
( ja c k F is h e r ) w h i l s t on th e o th e r hand e x p l i c a t i n g th e c r i t e r i a f o r
w hat i s t o c o u n t a s v a l i d i n r e p r e s e n t in g t h a t s o c i a l l i f e
(Mrs* P e n d le b u ry ).
T h is seem ed to e q u a te to th e c e n t r a l is s u e s r a i s e d i n t h e d i s c u s s io n
t h a t th e way t o p ro c e e d sh o u ld c o n s is t o f d o in g s o c i a l a n a l y s i s w h i l s t
c o n c u r r e n tly e x p l i c a t i n g th e c r i t e r i a f o r knov/ledge. G e lln e r h a s
i n f a c t e x p re s s e d t h i s s u c c i n c tl y .
• . . • • ' B o t h th e m ain stre a m s - on th e one hand th e c o d i f i c a t i o n o f th e p ro c e s s of k n o w ledge, and th e a tte m p t t o f o rm u la te th e c r i t e r i a o f k now ledge; on th e o th e r hand th e s u s ta in e d i n v e s t i g a t i o n o f o u r human s o c i a l s i t u a t i o n - a r e h ig h ly m e r i to r io u s . The way fo rw a rd seem s t o me t o c o n s is t o f a k in d o f c o n flu e n c e o f them ab a more s o p h is t ic a te d l e v e l . 1
T h is i s n o t t o say t h a t e v e ry p o s t u l a t i o n , e v e ry s e n te n c e , sh o u ld
be exam ined m in u te ly (h e ld up t o th e l i g h t ! ) a g a in s t some s p e c i f i c
^ c r i t e r i a , b u t r a t h e r t h a t th e t h e s i s i t s e l f c o n s t i t u t e s th e p r o c e s s
o f em erg in g , and r e p r e s e n t s th e i n v e s t i g a t i o n o f th e c r i t e r i a i n i t s
e s s e n c e . ■ . /
I f t h a t r e p r e s e n t s a way t o p ro c e e d , i t d o es s t i l l le a v e so m eth in g
o f th e q u e s tio n o f why p ro ce e d - why do s o c i a l a n a ly s i s ? The
t h e s i s w i l l th u s a l s o be co n cern ed w ith t h i s pro b lem i n t h a t th e
e x p li c a t i o n w i l l exam ine th e n a tu r e o f v a r io u s c o n c e p t u a li s a t i o n s
o f th e human c o n d itio n a s c o n s t i t u t i n g a s e a r c h f o r m ean in g - f o r
l i b e r a t i o n - f o r u n d e rs ta n d in g - e t c , and th e e x te n t t o w h ich su c h
f o r c e s a r e a n e c e s s a ry p a r t o f b e in g hum an. The t h e s i s i s a
c o n tr i b u ti o n t o th e s tu d y o f th e human s o c i a l c o n d itio n w ith in an
e x p li c a t i o n o f th e c r i t e r i a f o r know led g e, d r iv e n by f a c t o r s o f th e
human o n to lo g ic a l c o n d itio n w hich th e m se lv e s a r e a s u b je c t f o r
i n v e s t i g a t i o n . More s p e c i f i c a l l y , th e t h e s i s aim s t o i n v e s t i g a t e
a n i n v e s t i g a t i o n , w ith in th e c o n c e p tu a l a n a ly s i s o f t h e o r i e s o f
pow er i n o r g a n is a tio n s i n r e l a t i o n t o th e w r i t e r s o r g a n i s a ti o n a l
e x p e r ie n c e . The t h e s i s aim s t o exam ine th e n e g le c t o f s o c i e t a l
and h i s t o r i c a l c o n te x t i n much o f th e w ork done on pow er i n
o r g a n i s a ti o n s , and s e e k s t o c o n s tr u c t an a l t e r n a t i v e p e r s p e c tiv e
b a sed on th e sy m b o lic m a n if e s ta tio n s of pow er ( e x e m p lifie d i n f o r
in s ta n c e m y th s, r i t u a l s and id e o lo g ie s ) w hich i t i s a rg u e d n e e d s t o
be c o n s id e re d i n a d d it io n t o th e more t r a d i t i o n a l p e r s p e c ti v e s of
th e ty p e , *A h a s power o v e r B, i f *
) •
D i s ti n c ti o n s made betw een m anagem ent r e s e a r c h and s o c i o l o g i c a l
r e s e a r c h have p r e s e n te d so m eth in g o f a problem d u r in g th e
c o n s tr u c tio n o f t h i s t h e s i s , in d e e d i t h a s b een s u g g e s te d by some
t h a t th e t h e s i s sh o u ld n o t be su b m itte d from a M anagement D ep artm en t
b u t r a t h e r from a S o c io lo g y D ep artm en t. (* .why on e a r t h a r e
y o u d o in g t h i s i n a Management D epartm ent? . . o . . 1 , * w e ll
y e s b u t w hat i s t h e r e i n t h i s t h a t M anagers can u se ? . . . . 1,
* . . . . b u t t h i s i s n * t m anagem ent r e s e a r c h .* ) I t w ould I b e lie v e be
f a i r l y e a sy t o d e fe n d d o in g s o c io lo g y fro m a M anagement D e p a rtm e n t,
b u t t o do so w ould m e re ly be t o a p p ro a c h th e w o rld fro m th e same
k in d o f r i g i d l y c a te g o r is e d p e r s p e c tiv e s of th e c r i t i c s . Y /hereas
i t i s n o t n e c e s s a ry t o be a b le t o c lo s e ly d e f in e s o c io lo g y t o
a p p r e c ia te t h a t th e s u b je c t m a tte r h a s f a r r e a c h in g im p l ic a ti o n s f o r
th e b a s is o f m anagem ent r e s e a r c h ( e .g . th e s tu d y o f th e way i n w h ic h
i n d iv i d u a l s s t r u c t u r e and o rg a n is e t h e i r w o r I d s i s a t t h e h e a r t o f
th e way i n w hich m anagem ent i s p r a c t i s e d ) . Nor i s i t n e c e s s a r y t o
make e x tr a v a g a n t c la im s f o r th e b a s is o f s o c io lo g y a s b e in g th e
s o c i a l s c ie n c e s a rg u m e n ts ). I t i s s u f f i c i e n t t o be aw are t h a t ,
i n s o f a r a s s o c io lo g y and m anagem ent a r e s e e n a s d i f f e r e n t , th e
n a tu r e o f th e q u e s tio n s c o n c e rn in g th e w ays i n w h ich p ro b lem s a r e
t o be s e t t l e d , and th e e x te n t t o w hich th e s e p ro b lem s have been
i d e n t i f i e d a r e s i m i l a r (p e rh a p s som etim es th e sam e) and t h a t
m o reo v er m anagem ent a s a d i s c i p l i n e i s o f te n d e p e n d en t upon
th e e x p l i c a t i o n o f some s o c io l o g ic a l c o n c e p ts f o r i t s e x is te n c e
( e .g . th e n a tu r e o f m anagem ent i s i n e l u c ta b l y l o c a t e d , c o n c e p tu a lly ,
i n a s c ie n c e o f s o c ie ty ) . F u rth e rm o re th e p e r c e p tio n o f s o c io lo g y
and m anagem ent a s b e in g (alw a y s) th in g s w hich a r e i d e n t i f i a b l y
d i f f e r e n t may i t s e l f be a n u n n e c e s s a ry c o n fu s io n , p a r t i c u l a r l y i f
' m anagem ent i s a p p ro a c h e d from a b ro a d e r b a se ( e .g . m anagem ent a s n o t
, sim p ly co n cern ed w ith how some - th e m an ag ers - manage o t h e r s , b u t
w ith how a l l p e rfo rm th e awesome t a s k o f m anaging e v e ry d a y l i f e ) .
/
A n o th er s i m i l a r c r i t i c i s m made o f my w ork h a s b e e n t h a t i t s h o u ld
be s u b m itte d i n a P h ilo so p h y D e p a rtm en t. The a s su m p tio n s b e h in d
t h i s k in d o f view seem t o me t o be a t th e h e a r t o f th e t r a d i t i o n a l
s e p a r a tio n betw een p h ilo so p h y and o th e r d i s c i p l i n e s ( e .g . S c i e n c e s 1)
an d th e p ro b lem s o f su c h a s e p a r a ti o n f o r s o c io lo g y a r e ta k e n a s a
m a tte r f o r e n q u iry i n th e t h e s i s . ' A f u r t h e r c r i t i c i s m h a s b e e n t h a t
th e t h e s i s i s n o t r e a l l y r e s e a r c h ( f . . . . b u t t h i s i s n ft s o c io lo g y . . . .
y o u rem in d me o f a n o th e r e x -e n g in e e r I know, who when a sk e d who i s th e
g r e a t e s t , s o c i o l o g i s t o f a l l tim e , a n s w e rs , " B a lz a c " 1) s in c e th e
c o n c e rn i s w ith r e t r o s p e c t i v e d a ta and t h e r e f o r e r e s e a r c h in s tr u m e n ts
c o u ld n o t be d e s ig n e d b e fo re u n d e rta k in g th e w ork. Thus i t i s
I t w ould s i m i l a r l y be p o s s ib le t o r e f u t e t h i s c r i t i c i s m fro m
w ith in th e r i g i d c a t e g o r i s a t i o n s im p lie d , s in c e th e s u b je c t o f th e
t h e s i s c l e a r l y em erged d u rin g th e a c t i o n r e s e a r c h p e rio d o f
em ploym ent and m ost o f th e d a ta w ere c o ll e c t e d a c c o rd in g t o
fram ew orks d e v e lo p e d a t t h a t tim e . I n f a c t th e p e rio d of em ploym ent
a t Wenslow M a n u fa c tu rin g C o . , c o n c e rn in g a s i t d id a b r i e f t o
in te r v e n e i n an a c t i o n r e s e a r c h r o l e (a lth o u g h u n d o u b te d ly s u f f e r i n g
from la c k o f a w a ren e ss o f th e im p lic a tio n s of su ch a b r i e f ) o c c u rin g
a t a tim e when m ost o f w hat i s i n t h i s t h e s i s was l a r g e l y u n fo rm u la te d ,
w as u sed t o c o l l e c t d a ta s p e c i f i c a l l y w ith a view t o sh e d d in g l i g h t
upon Why I was s u f f e r i n g p a r a l y s i s of my b r i e f . I t i s n o t t h e r e f o r e
s u r p r i s i n g t h a t power became a c e n t r a l c o n c e rn . Thus w h e th e r
c o n c e p tu a lis e d a s h y p o t h e s i s - t e s t i n g ( i h y p o th e s is e t h a t i t i s
b ecau se I la c k pow er t h a t I am p a r a ly s e d ) o r f o llo w in g dom ain
a ssu m p tio n s (ab o u t pow er) i t c o u ld be a rg u e d t h a t t h e i n v e s t i g a t i o n
was n o t i n f a c t co n cern ed w ith r e t r o s p e c t i v e d a ta . Such a
r e f u t a t i o n how ever would a g a in r e l y upon th e somewhat r i g i d l y
c a te g o r is e d p e r s p e c tiv e s - of th e s e c r i t i c s , and th e t h e s i s i n s t e a d
ta k e s su ch c r i t i c i s m s a s a t o p ic f o r i n v e s t i g a t i o n w i t h in th e
e x a m in a tio n of th e c r i t e r i a f o r know led g e.
The O r g a n is a tio n s
The O r g a n is a tio n s from w hich th e m a t e r i a ls f o r t h i s t h e s i s a r e ta k e n
a r e t h r e e o r g a n is a tio n s i n w h ich th e w r i t e r h a s w orked d u r in g th e
p re c e d in g f i v e y e a r s , p lu s s i x o th e r o r g a n is a tio n s fro m w h ich d& ta h a s
b een c o ll e c t e d d u rin g th e r e s e a r c h . The names o f a l l c o m p a n ies,
p e rs o n s and some jo b t i t l e s have b een changed t o p r o t e c t th e i d e n t i t y
-1• Wenslow M a n u fa c tu rin g Company.
T h is O r g a n is a tio n i s th e l a s t company i n w hich th e w r i t e r
w orked, and i s th e one in v o lv in g th e a c t i o n r e s e a r c h r o l e w here
th e p r e s e n tly d e v e lo p e d e x p o s itio n em erged i n t o a m ore c o h e re n t
f o r m u la tio n o f p a s t e x p e rie n c e . Wenslow M a n u fa c tu rin g Co. i s a
medium s iz e d e n g in e e rin g m a n u fa c tu rin g c o n c e rn i n th e N o rth o f
E n g la n d . The Company em ploys a b o u t 2000 p e o p le and h a s a n a n n u a l
tu r n o v e r o f a ro u n d £20 m i l l i o n . The Company r e p r e s e n t s th e B r i t i s h
D iv is io n o f a n A m erican owned w o rld w ide m u l t i - n a t i o n a l C o rp o ra tio n
a lth o u g h th e r e a r e no p u rp o s e ly em ployed A m erican N a tio n a ls i n th e
Company i n t h i s c o u n tr y . T h is a b se n c e i s g e n e r a lly a c c o u n te d f o r
by th e e x c e p tio n a l p r o f i t a b i l i t y o f th e Company ( r e t u r n on n e t a s s e t s
b e in g m a in ta in e d above J>0% d u rin g th e bad y e a r s of th e m id 1 9 7 0 rs )
w hich i n t u r n i s u s u a lly a t t r i b u t e d t o th e h ig h q u a l i t y o f th e
p r o d u c ts .
I was em ployed i n th e P e rs o n n e l D epartm ent f o r a p p ro x im a te ly 15 m o n th s,
and my Job had th e d u a l r o l e o f d o in g a c t i o n r e s e a r c h and a l s o
m anaging th e r e c r u itm e n t o p e r a tio n i n t h e Company. M a te r ia l fro m
Wenslow M a n u fa c tu rin g Co. , a p p e a rs m a in ly i n C h a p te rs f i v e , s e v e n and
e ig h t o f t h e t h e s i s . •
2 . E ie ld in g and Company
T h is Company i s a p r iv a t e f a m ily c o n c e rn i n th e e l e c t r i c a l c o n t r a c t i n g
in d u s tr y i n th e same tow n i n th e N o rth of E ngland a s Wenslow
an d h a s a n a t i o n a l r e p u t a t i o n f o r h ig h q u a l i t y w o rkm anship. I was
em ployed by th e O r g a n is a tio n a s a D esig n E n g in e e r f o r a p p ro x im a te ly
14 m o n th s. M a te r ia l fro m F ie ld in g and Company a p p e a r s i n C h a p te r
s i x o f th e t h e s i s .
3 . N o rth M id lan d s B o ard .
N o rth M id lan d s B oard i s a n A rea B oard of a p u b lic u t i l i t y
o r g a n is a tio n , one o f tw e lv e A rea B o ard s i n E n g lan d an d W ales.
N o rth M id lan d s B oard em ploy a p p ro x im a te ly 8 y000 p e o p le , and hav e a n
a n n u a l tu r n o v e r o f a ro u n d £100 m i l l i o n . 1 .was em ployed i n th e
E a s te r n D i s t r i c t o f th e B o ard , a s a n E n g in e e r , f o r 6-J- y e a r s .
M a te r ia l from N o rth M id lan d s B oard a p p e a rs i n C h ap ters s i x , se v en
and e ig h t o f t h e t h e s i s .
/ ‘ ■
1
4 . Penborough C o rp o ra tio n .
P enborough C o rp o ra tio n i s th e l o c a l A u th o r ity i n th e same N o r th e r n
tow n a s Wenslow M a n u fa c tu rin g Co. and F i e ld i n g and Company. . D u rin g
th e r e s e a r c h I w as s u p p lie d w ith some c o rre sp o n d e n c e r e g a r d in g a n
in c i d e n t i n th e A d m in is tr a tio n D epartm ent a t P enborough C o r p o r a tio n ,
by a n em ployee who a sk e d me t o a c c o u n t f o r th e 's t r a n g e l o g i c ,of t h e
O r g a n is a t io n .1 T h is m a t e r i a l and a n a l y s i s a p p e a r s i n C h a p te r s i x
o f th e t h e s i s .
5* F iv e m a n u fa c tu rin g com panies i n th e C hem ical I n d u s t r y .
D ata was c o l l e c t e d fro m tw e lv e i n d u s t r i a l r e l a t i o n s p r a c t i t i o n e r s
w h ich th e y a c c o u n te d f o r t h e i r jo b s when q u e s tio n e d a b o u t w hat th e y
u n d e rs to o d by i n d u s t r i a l r e l a t i o n s . The p r a c t i t i o n e r s c o n s is te d o f
one M anaging D i r e c t o r , two P e rs o n n e l D i r e c t o r s , f o u r I n d u s t r i a l
R e la tio n s /P e r s o n n e l M an ag ers, one L in e M anager, one V/orks C onvenor
and t h r e e Shop. S te w a rd s. T h is m a t e r i a l a p p e a rs i n C h a p te r n in e o f
th e t h e s i s .
The T h e s is
The la y o u t o f t h e t h e s i s d e r iv e s fro m my p e r c e p tio n o f th e way i n
w hich c e r t a i n i s s u e s r e q u ir e d e x a m in a tio n b e fo re i n v e s t i g a t i o n o f
l o g i c a l l y su c c e e d in g pro b lem s co u ld be u n d e rta k e n . Thus th e
e x a m in a tio n o f th e c r i t e r i a f o r know ledge o c c u p ie s t h e w hole of
c h a p te r s tw o and t h r e e , i n p r e p a r a tio n f o r t h e su b sta n tiv e a p p ro a c h
\ •
t o th e i n v e s t i g a t i o n o f pow erj w h ich commences w ith c h a p te r f o u r .
/ ■ ■
I n f a c t c h a p te r tw o b e g in s w ith a d is c u s s io n o f some o f t h e m ain
ways i n w hich c a r r y in g o u t s o c i a l a n a l y s i s h a s b een c o n c e iv e d .
T h is i s u n d e rta k e n i n o r d e r t o l o c a t e th e e x a m in a tio n o f th e c r i t e r i a
f o r know ledge v /ith r e s p e c t to th e u n d e rly in g t h e o r i e s and a s su m p tio n s
o f know ledge in h e r e n t i n t h e v a r io u s program m es. T h is f o u n d a tio n i s
th e n u sed t o d e v e lo p i n c h a p te r th r e e a m ore s p e c i f i c e x a m in a tio n o f
th e a c t u a l t h e o r i e s of know le d g e w h ich have been p o s tu la te d ? an d th e
d is c u s s io n i s th e n fo c u s e d upon th e im m ediate p ro b lem o f p ro c e d u re i n
c a r r y in g o u t s o c i a l a n a l y s i s . The f i r s t p a r t cf th e t h e s i s i s
t h e r e f o r e in v o lv e d w ith a c l a r i f i c a t i o n an d c o n s tr u c ti o n o f a b a se upon
w hich t h e e n q u iry can p ro c e e d .
i n o r g a n is a tio n s and s e t s th e scen e f o r th e c o n s id e r a tio n o f my
o r g a n i s a ti o n a l e x p e rie n c e w hich o c c u p ie s th e f o llo w in g f i v e c h a p te r s .
The p r e s e n t a t io n o f t h i s c o u n te rp o se d e x p e rie n c e , w hich i ll u m i n a te s
th e d is c re p a n c y w ith t h e o r i e s propounded i n th e l i t e r a t u r e , i n
c o n c e n tr a tin g on th e subm erged a s p e c ts o f o r g a n i s a ti o n a l l i f e ( i . e .
th e sy m b o lic i n f r a s t r u c t u r e ) i s th e m a tic . I n c h a p te r f i v e th e
p r e s e n t a t i o n i s commenced w ith a d is c u s s io n o f t h e n o t io n o f th e
r i g h t t o m anage and th e a ssu m p tio n s u n d e rly in g su ch a n o t io n .
T h is i s d ev e lo p e d i n c h a p te r s i x i n t o a n e x a m in a tio n o f th e way i n
w hich th e r i g h t i s tra n s fo rm e d i n t o a d u ty and a n a b s o lu te s o v e r e ig n ty .
C h a p te r se v e n c o n c e n tr a te s upon th e m eans by w hich a n a b s o l u t e , l i k e
th e s o v e re ig n ty o f m anagem ent, i s p ro d u ced and m a in ta in e d a s a s e l f
e v id e n t p a r t o f o r g a n i s a ti o n a l l i f e , and c h a p te r s e ig h t and n in e
c e n tr e upon a c o n s id e r a tio n o f th e r e i n f o r c i n g an d i n s t i t u t i o n a l i s i n g
m echanism s w h ich s e rv e t o u n d e r lin e th e a b s o lu t e . C h a p te r t e n
r e c a p i t u l a t e s some o f th e m ain com ponents o f th e arg u m en t an d
i d e n t i f i e s some o f th e i m p l ic a ti o n s .
The c e n t r a l problem w hich i s a d d re s s e d i n th e t h e s i s t h e n , ste m s
fro m my o r g a n i s a ti o n a l e x p e rie n c e e p ito m is e d by th e p e r io d o f
em ploym ent i n w hich I was in v o lv e d i n a c t i o n r e s e a r c h , and f o c u s e s
upon th e s e a r c h f o r u n d e rs ta n d in g a s t o why I seem ed t o be p a r a ly s e d
i n a c h ie v in g a n y th in g i n t h a t fram ew o rk . The c o n c e p t u a li s a t i o n
o f t h i s problem a s a n i s s u e o f pow er le d d i r e c t l y t o t h i s t h e s i s *
and th e d is c re p a n c y betw een t h e o r i e s o f pow er i n th e l i t e r a t u r e ' arid
my o r g a n i s a ti o n a l e x p e rie n c e r e s u l t i n g i n a n i d e n t i f i c a t i o n o f th e
c r i t e r i a f o r kn o w led g e. B oth th e s e c o n c e p t u a li s a t i o n s w i l l be
CHAPTER TWO
■ CONCEPTIONS OF THE NATURE AND STATUS OP SOCIAL ENQUIRY
Q u e s tio n s o f w hat i s t o c o u n t a s v a l i d know ledge and th e p ro b lem
o f how to p ro c e e d i n a c q u ir in g such know le d g e a r e th e n , fu n d a m e n ta l
d i f f i c u l t i e s i n s o c io lo g y . The d i f f i c u l t i e s a r e n o t u n iq u e t o
s o c io lo g y , r a t h e r th e y a r e s p e c i f i c t o th e human s i t u a t i o n , b u t
th e y a r e p a r t i c u l a r l y c r i t i c a l t o th e e x te n t t h a t t h e s u b je c t c o n c e rn s
th e human s o c i a l s i t u a t i o n . G iven th e p o t e n t i a l l y c r i p p l i n g n a tu r e
o f th e d i f f i c u l t i e s i t i s o f prim e im p o rta n c e f o r any c o n t r i b u t o r
t o s o c io lo g y t o a tte m p t t o fo rm u la te a te n a b le a p p ro a c h t o th e
p ro b le m s, a lth o u g h th o s e , who b u ild t h e i r w ork upon l e s s p r o b le m a tic
program m es w i l l u n d o u b te d ly r e g a r d su ch a n e x p o s itio n a s a n
e p is te m o lo g ic a l d iv e r s io n J , ■'
i
I n o rd e r t o e x p li c a t e th e n a tu r e o f t h e d i f f i c u l t i e s i t i s n e c e s s a r y
t o c r i t i c a l l y exam ine th e n a tu r e o f th e d i s c i p l i n e ( o r f s k in t r a d e 1
a s 0 !N e il p u ts i t ) a s c o n c e iv e d , c o n s tr u c te d and d e v e lo p e d by
p r a c t i t i o n e r s , s in c e th e q u e s tio n o f w hat c o n s t i t u t e s s o c io lo g y i s
i n e v i t a b l y e n ta n g le d w ith th e q u e s tio n o f th e p o s s i b i l i t y p f
s o c io lo g y ( a s c o n c e iv e d ) w h ich i n t u r n m ust u n d e r l ie t h e q u e s ti o n o f ,
how s o c io lo g y i s p o s s ib l e .
T h is c h a p te r th e n i s co n cern ed w ith a c r i t i c a l e x a m in a tio n o f some
o f th e w ays i n w hich s o c io lo g y h a s b een d e lin e a te d by p r a c t i t i o n e r s .
The f i r s t s e c t i o n c o n c e n tr a te s upon c o n c e p tio n s o f s o c io lo g y a s a
s o c ie ty * and th e second s e c t i o n f o c u s e s upon th e em p h asis p la c e d
by s o c i a l a n a l y s t s upon th e o r y and th e a p p a r e n tly c e n t r a l n a tu r e
o f th e o ry i n f o r m u la tio n s o f s o c io lo g y . The e x a m in a tio n d e v e lo p s
w ith a d is c u s s io n o f ways i n w hich some p r a c t i t i o n e r s h av e a tte m p te d
t o d e li n e a t e s o c io lo g y by a rg u in g t h a t i t c an be d is t i n g u is h e d from
a r t (s o c io lo g y a s n o t - a r t ) and c o n c lu d e s w ith an a n a l y s i s o f th e
way i n w hich th e i d e n t i t y o f s o c io lo g y h a s been d e te rm in e d by th e
argum ent o f some p h ilo s o p h e rs t h a t c a r r y in g o u t s o c i a l a n a l y s i s i s
d e m o n stra b ly d i s t i n g u is h a b le from p h ilo s o p h y (s o c io lo g y a s n o t -
p h ilo s o p h y ) . T h is fram ew ork i s n o t a r e p r e s e n t a t i o n o f d i f f e r e n t
s o c io lo g ie s ( th e r e a r e enough s tra w men w ith o u t c r e a t i n g m ore)
r a t h e r i t i s c o n s tr u c te d f o r a n a l y t i c a l p u rp o se s i n a n a tte m p t to
tra n s c e n d th e somewhat r e s t r i c t i n g n o rm a tiv e a ssu m p tio n t h a t s o c io lo g y
i s s c ie n c e (w hich i s n o t t o s u g g e s t t h a t s o c io lo g y i s n o t s c ie n c e )
and t o i s o l a t e f o r d is c u s s io n c e r t a i n em phases t o be fo u n d i n
s o c io l o g ic a l w r i t i n g s .
S c i e n t i f i c C o n c e p tio n s o f S o c ia l E n q u iry
C om m entators a c c o u n tin g f o r th e o r ig i n s o f s o c io lo g y g e n e r a ll y p o in t
t o th e s u r f a c in g o f q u e s tio n s a b o u t s o c i a l o r g a n is a tio n stem m ing fro m
th e d i s t u r b in g p o l i t i c a l and econom ic ch an g es w h ic h ^ o c c u rre d i n
N in e te e n th C en tu ry E u ro p e . The o r ig i n s a r e th u s s e e n t o d e r iv e fro m
a d e s ir e to d e v e lo p a s c ie n c e o f s o c ie t y i n te rm s r e l a t e d t o o r b u i l t
upon th e p r e v a le n t v e r s io n s o f n a t u r a l s c ie n c e . C r i ti c i s m o f su ch
v e r s io n s o f s o c io lo g y how ever do n o t alw ay s r e l a t e th e a r t i c u l a t i o n
o f th e c e n t r a l c o n c e rn s t o th e p a r t i c u l a r e x p e rie n c e of p o l i t i c a l an d
C r i ti c i s m s th u s lo s e th e e s s e n t i a l c o n te x t o f th e program m es s e t
f o r t h and i n so d o in g d e t r a c t from th e h i s t o r i c a l im p o rta n c e i n v a in
2
a tte m p ts to e x t r a c t s i g n i f i c a n c e . In d eed a s Rex h a s a rg u e d , t o
c a p tu r e th e e s s e n c e , th e p a r t i c u l a r v e r s io n s need a l s o t o be lo c a te d
e s p e c i a l l y w ith r e s p e c t t o th e m ore im m ediate i n t e l l e c t u a l a n te c e d e n ts
o f th e s i g n i f i c a n t f i g u r e s . Thus f o r a f u l l e r u n d e rs ta n d in g o f
th e developm ent o f C o m tek v e r s io n o f s o c io lo g y one n e e d s to exam ine
th e in f lu e n c e upon him o f p e o p le l i k e S t . Sim on. S im ila r ly Adam
S m ith * s in f lu e n c e on S pen cer i s c r u c i a l .
\
T h is S e c tio n i s co n cern ed w ith t r a c i n g th e v e r s io n s o f s o c io lo g y
d e v e lo p e d by Comte and S p e n c e r, an d i n th e l o c a t io n o f t h e s e v e r s i o n s
i n t h e i r p a r t i c u l a r h i s t o r i c a l c irc u m s ta n c e s and a n te c e d e n t i n f l u e n c e s
i n o r d e r t o e s t a b l i s h th e o r ig i n s o f s c i e n t i f i c c o n c e p tio n s o f s o c io lo g y .
The argum ent i s d e v e lo p e d h i s t o r i c a l l y th ro u g h D urkheim and th e l o g i c a l
P o s i t i v i s t s t o p r e s e n t day v e r s io n s o f s o c io lo g y a s s c ie n c e .
S o c io lo g y a s c o n c eiv e d by Comte th e n , was t o se e th e c o m p le tio n
o f th e h i s t o r i c a l developm ent o f t h e s c i e n t i f i c d i s c i p l i n e s . The
h i s t o r y o f s c ie n c e was se e n by Comte a s a p r o g r e s s iv e e v o lu t io n o f
s c i e n t i f i c know ledge m oving fro m d i s c i p l i n e s r e l a t i n g t o th e n a t u r a l
w o rld , th ro u g h d i s c i p l i n e s r e l a t i n g t o mans in v o lv e m e n t an d c o n t r o l o f 3
t h e n a t u r a l w o rld , to w a rd s th e s tu d y o f man h im s e lf •
The lo g ic o f t h i s developm ent r e s t e d on t h e a ssu m p tio n t h a t s u c c e s s iv e
s c ie n c e s p resu p p o se th e law s o f p r e v io u s ly d ev elo p ed s c ie n c e s , an d
s o c io lo g y (c o n c e iv e d a s a k in d o f s o c i a l p h y s ic s ) p re s u p p o s e s t h e law s
