Change in organizations : a critique of the dominant assumptions of identity and determinacy

Abstract

The instituted assumptions of identity and determinacy are elucidated regarding theirimplications for our understanding of the sources of constitution and change of social andorganizational action. Built upon these assumptions, mainstream organizational researchlocates these sources in exogenous environmental forces and ascribes to the significativeaspects of action and language a reflective-representational ontological status. We questionthese assumptions and their implications upon two premisses. First, that practical aspectsof action and perceived environmental constraints lack any intrinsic meaning, sincemeaning is ascribed to them by the significative aspects of action and language, mainly bythe instituted central imaginary significations of society or civilization. Second, that theselatter lack any inherent determination of meaning, for they constitute magmas of meaning.An alternative approach is outlined upon these premisses