Organization studies is a robust field, replete with diverse, often contentious perspectives that may enrich understandings of pluralism and paradox. Yet polarization of modern paradigms and ruptures between modern and postmodern stances may inhibit researchers from tapping this potential. In response, this article delves into a provocative alternative - multiparadigm inquiry. First, we juxtapose modern, postmodern and multiparadigm approaches to contrast their underlying assumptions. We then review three multiparadigm strategies, exploring their objectives, exemplars and limitations. Our conclusion addresses how multiparadigm inquiry fosters greater reflexivity, while posing considerable challenges.
Ackroyd, S.Paradigms lost: Paradise regained? In M. Reed and M. Hughes (Eds), Rethinking organization. London: Sage, 1992.
2.
Allison, G.T.Essence of decision: Explaining the Cuban Missile Crisis. Boston, MA: Little Brown, 1971.
3.
Alvesson, M.Consensus, control, and critique. Brookfield, VT: Avebury, 1987.
4.
Bouchikhi, H.Living with and building on complexity: A constructivist perspective on organizations . Organization, 1998, 5(2), 217-232.
5.
Bradshaw-Camball, P. & Murray, V.V.Illusions and other games: A trifocal view of organizational politics. Organization Science, 1991, 2, 379-398.
6.
Brocklesby, J.Becoming multimethodology literate: An assessment of the cognitive difficulties of working across paradigms. In J. Mingers and A. Gills (Eds), Multimethodology. New York: Wiley, 1997.
7.
Burrell, G.Paradigms, metaphors, discourses, genealogies. In S. Clegg, C. Hardy and W. Nord (Eds), Handbook of organization studies. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, 1996.
8.
Burrell, G. & Morgan, G.Sociological paradigms and organizational analysis. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann, 1979.
9.
Calas, M.B. & Smircich, L.Past postmodernism? Reflections and tentative directions. Academy of Management Review, 1999, 24, 649-671.
10.
Cannella, A.A., Jr. & Paetzold, R.L.Pfeffer’s barriers to the advance of organizational science: A rejoinder. Academy of Management Review, 1994, 19, 331-342.
11.
Chia, R.From modern to postmodern organizational analysis . Organization Studies, 1995, 16(4), 579-605.
12.
Chia, R.Organizational analysis as deconstructive practice. New Yorki: Walter de Gruyter, 1996.
Clegg, S. & Hardy, C.Conclusion: Representations. In S. Clegg, C. Hardy and W. Nord (Eds), Handbook of organization studies. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, 1996.
15.
Cooper, R. & Burrell, G.Modernism, postmodernism and organizational analysis: An introduction. Organization Studies, 1988, 9(1), 91-112.
16.
Cooper, R. & Law, J.Organization: Distal and proximal views. Research in the Sociology of Organizations, 1995, 13, 237-274.
17.
Daymon, C.Culture formation in a new television station: A multi-perspective analysis . British Journal of Management, 2000, 11, 121-135.
18.
Deetz, S.Describing differences in approaches to organization science: Rethinking Burrell and Morgan and their legacy . Organization Science, 1996, 7, 191-207.
19.
Derrida, J.Writing and difference. (Translated by A. Bass.) London: Routledge, 1978.
20.
Donaldson, L.The myth of paradigm incommensurability in management studies: Comments by an integrationist . Organization, 1998, 5(2), 267-272.
21.
Flood, R. & Romm, N.From metatheory to ‘multimethodology’. In J. Mingers and A. Gills (Eds), Multimethodology. New York: Wiley, 1997.
22.
Gaventa, J.Power and powerlessness: Quiescence and rebellion in an Appalachian valley. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1980.
23.
Gioia, D.A. & Pitre, E.Multiparadigm perspectives on theory building. Academy of Management Review, 1990, 15, 584-602.
24.
Gouldner, A.W.The coming crisis of western sociology. London: Heinemann, 1973.
25.
Graham-Hill, S. Small business strategy: A multiparadigm perspective, unpublished dissertation, University of Kentucky, 1996.
26.
Grimes, A.J. & Rood, D.L.Beyond objectivism and relativism: Descriptive epistemologies. In J.P. Jones III, W. Natter and T.R. Schatzki (Eds), Objectivity and its other. New York: Guilford, 1995.
27.
Grint, K.The sociology of work: An introduction. London: Polity Press, 1991.
Hassard, J. Multiple paradigms and organisational research: An analysis of work behaviour in the Fire Service, unpublished PhD thesis, University of Aston, Birmingham, 1985.
30.
Hassard, J.Sociology and organization theory. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1993.
31.
Hassard, J.Postmodern organizational analysis: Toward a conceptual framework . Journal of Management Studies, 1994, 31, 303-324.
32.
Hassard, J. & Parker, M. (Eds) Postmodernism and organization. Newbury Park, CA: Sage, 1994.
33.
Herts, R. (Ed.) Reflexivity and voice. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, 1997.
34.
Holland, R.Reflexivity . Human Relations, 1999, 52(4), 463-484.
35.
Jackson, N. & Carter, P.In defense of paradigm commensurability. Organization Studies1991, 12(1), 109-127.
36.
Kelemen, M. The role of leadership in achieving TQM in the UK service sector: A multiparadigm study, unpublished PhD thesis, University of Oxford, 1995.
37.
Kilduff, M. & Mehra, A.Postmodernism and organizational research. Academy of Management Review, 1997, 22, 453-481.
Koot, W. , Sabelis, I. & Ybema, S.Global identity-local oddity? Paradoxical processes in contemporary organizations. In W. Koot, I. Sabelis and S. Ybema (Eds), Contradictions in context. Amsterdam: VU University Press, 1996.
40.
Kuhn, T.S.The structure of scientific revolutions. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press, 1970.
41.
Lewis, M.W. Advanced manufacturing technology design: A multiparadigm study, unpublished dissertation, University of Kentucky, 1996.
42.
Lewis, M.W. & Grimes, A.J.Metatriangulation: Building theory from multiple paradigms. Academy of Management Review, 1999, 24, 672-690.
43.
Lincoln, Y.The making of a constructivist: A remembrance of transformations past. In E.G. Guba (Ed.), The paradigm dialog. Newbury Park, CA: Sage, 1990.
44.
Lyotard, J.F.The post-modern condition: A report on knowledge. (Translated by G. Bennington & B. Marsuni.) Manchester: Manchester University Press, 1984.
45.
McCloskey, D.N.Knowledge and persuasion in economics. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1994.
46.
Martin, J.Cultures in organizations: Three perspectives. New York: Oxford University Press, 1992.
47.
Mingers, J.Multi-paradigm methodology. In J. Mingers and A. Gills (Eds), Multimethodology. New York: Wiley, 1997.
48.
Morgan, G.Beyond method. Newbury Park, CA: Sage, 1983.
49.
Morgan, G.Images of organization. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, 1997.
50.
Parker, M.Critique in the name of what? Postmodernism and critical approaches to organization . Organization Studies, 1995, 16(4), 553-565.
51.
Parker, M. & McHugh, G.Five texts in search of an author: A response to John Hassard’s multiple paradigms and organizational analysis. Organization Studies, 1991, 12(3), 451-456.
52.
Poole, M.S. & Van de Ven, A.H.Using paradox to build management and organization theories. Academy of Management Review, 1989, 14, 562-578.
53.
Reed, M.Redirections in organizational analysis. London: Tavistock, 1985.
54.
Reed, M.In praise of duality and dualism: Rethinking agency and structure in organizational analysis . Organization Studies, 1997, 18(1), 21-42.
55.
Rosenau, P.M.Postmodernism and the social sciences: Insights, inroads and intrusions. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1992.
56.
Scherer, A.G.Pluralism and incommensurability in strategic management and organization theory: A problem in search of a solution . Organization, 1998, 5(2), 147-168.
57.
Schultz, M. & Hatch, M.J.Living within multiple paradigms: The case of paradigm interplay in organizational culture studies. Academy of Management Review, 1996, 21, 529-557.
58.
Smircich, L.Concepts of culture and organizational analysis . Administrative Science Quarterly, 1983, 28, 339-358.
59.
Spender, J.-C.Pluralist epistemology and the knowledge-based theory of the firm . Organization, 1998, 5(2), 233-256.
Weick, K.E.Theory construction as disciplined reflexivity: Tradeoffs of the 90s . Academy of Management Review, 1999, 24, 797-807.
62.
Whitehead, A.N.Science and the modern world. London: Free Association Books, 1985.
63.
Ybema, S.A duck-billed platypus in the theory and analysis of organizations: Combinations of consensus and dissensus. In W. Koot, I. Sabelis and S. Ybema (Eds), Contradictions in context. Amsterdam: VU University Press, 1996.
