Discussion: View Thread

  • 1.  Paradigm Wars and Group Processes

    Posted 03-15-1999 21:56
    What a lively group we have. Linda Hampton asks if we can't discuss issues
    related to the paradigm wars in a less emotionally charged, but
    intellectually honest manner. While I think we can, I am not sure that we
    can ever reach agreement. For those who find all this confusing and
    irrelevant, but who are nonetheless interested in knowing what all the fuss
    is about, let me recommend two sources for your reading pleasure.

    In corner one, we have the true believers, the defenders of the faith (in
    this case science), the empirical realist (among whom I probably am more or
    less a member in good standing). For those in corner one, I would
    recommend reading Shelby Hunt's book Modern Marketing Theory. Shelby does
    a forceful job of reviewing the history and major controversies in the
    philosophy of science. Since he too is a defender of the faith, you will
    find lots of attacks on the those who would challenge science as a way of
    knowing.

    In corner two, we have the challengers, the critical theorist, the
    postmodernist, the feminist, the social constructionist, and anybody else
    you care to throw rocks at for challenging accepted dogma. For those
    interested in understanding these alternative viewpoints, I highly
    recommend the Handbook of Organization Studies, edited by Stewart Clegg,
    Cynthia Hardy, and Walter Nord. While this book of readings goes far
    beyond issues related to philophy of science, there are many good chapters
    dealing with issues germain to the paradigm wars. Among the many
    interesting and worthwhile chapters I would recommend reading: the
    introduction by Clegg and Hardy as well as chapters by Michael Reed, Walter
    Nord & Suzy Fox, Mats Alvesson and Stanley Deetz, Marta Calas & Linda
    Smircich, Linda Putnam, Nelson Phillips & Pamela Chapman, Cnthia Hardy &
    Stewart Clegg, Gibson Burrell, and Richard Marsden & Barbara Townley.

    Changing the subject, I note with interest the overwhelming support for
    using 12 Angry Men to illustrate group dynamics. A great movie, but one
    that might lead young, naive students to think that right makes might.
    That truth will always prevail if we can only manage the process correctly.
    But the irascible part of me remembers another Henry Fonda movie, The
    Ox-Bow Incident (1943). Here the group processes resulted in great evil.
    Perhaps we should show them both.

    On the left (justice), right (liberty), in the middle (mug wups),

    I remain as confused as ever.

    Best, Kim Boal


    --------------------------------
    Kim Boal
    College of Business Administration
    Texas Tech University
    Lubbock, TX 79409
    (806) 742-2150
    KimBoal@ttu.edu


  • 2.  Paradigm Wars and Group Processes

    Posted 03-15-1999 23:09
    Not that it makes a difference, Kim, but wasn't that Dana Andrews in "The
    Ox-Bow Incident"? And doesn't it paint a much darker picture?
    Best, Leon

    Kim Boal wrote:

    > What a lively group we have. Linda Hampton asks if we can't discuss issues
    > related to the paradigm wars in a less emotionally charged, but
    > intellectually honest manner. While I think we can, I am not sure that we
    > can ever reach agreement. For those who find all this confusing and
    > irrelevant, but who are nonetheless interested in knowing what all the fuss
    > is about, let me recommend two sources for your reading pleasure.
    >
    > In corner one, we have the true believers, the defenders of the faith (in
    > this case science), the empirical realist (among whom I probably am more or
    > less a member in good standing). For those in corner one, I would
    > recommend reading Shelby Hunt's book Modern Marketing Theory. Shelby does
    > a forceful job of reviewing the history and major controversies in the
    > philosophy of science. Since he too is a defender of the faith, you will
    > find lots of attacks on the those who would challenge science as a way of
    > knowing.
    >
    > In corner two, we have the challengers, the critical theorist, the
    > postmodernist, the feminist, the social constructionist, and anybody else
    > you care to throw rocks at for challenging accepted dogma. For those
    > interested in understanding these alternative viewpoints, I highly
    > recommend the Handbook of Organization Studies, edited by Stewart Clegg,
    > Cynthia Hardy, and Walter Nord. While this book of readings goes far
    > beyond issues related to philophy of science, there are many good chapters
    > dealing with issues germain to the paradigm wars. Among the many
    > interesting and worthwhile chapters I would recommend reading: the
    > introduction by Clegg and Hardy as well as chapters by Michael Reed, Walter
    > Nord & Suzy Fox, Mats Alvesson and Stanley Deetz, Marta Calas & Linda
    > Smircich, Linda Putnam, Nelson Phillips & Pamela Chapman, Cnthia Hardy &
    > Stewart Clegg, Gibson Burrell, and Richard Marsden & Barbara Townley.
    >
    > Changing the subject, I note with interest the overwhelming support for
    > using 12 Angry Men to illustrate group dynamics. A great movie, but one
    > that might lead young, naive students to think that right makes might.
    > That truth will always prevail if we can only manage the process correctly.
    > But the irascible part of me remembers another Henry Fonda movie, The
    > Ox-Bow Incident (1943). Here the group processes resulted in great evil.
    > Perhaps we should show them both.
    >
    > On the left (justice), right (liberty), in the middle (mug wups),
    >
    > I remain as confused as ever.
    >
    > Best, Kim Boal
    >
    > --------------------------------
    > Kim Boal
    > College of Business Administration
    > Texas Tech University
    > Lubbock, TX 79409
    > (806) 742-2150
    > KimBoal@ttu.edu