A Process Theory of Organization

This book presents a novel and comprehensive process theory of organization applicable to "a world on the move," where connectedness prevails over size, flow prevails over stability, and temporality prevails over spatiality.

The process theory developed in the book draws upon process thinking in a number of areas, including process philosophy, pragmatism, phenomenology, and science and technology studies. Salient ideas from these schools are carefully woven into a process theory of organization, which makes the book not only a thought provoking theoretical contribution, but also a much needed glimpse into the challenges faced by organizers. Taking a distinctly temporal view of organizational life the author shows how actors operate in an on-going present in which they draw upon their past and project their past as ambitions for the future. This on-going work in which technologies, concepts, and social actors take part is crucial for the making of any type of organizational formation. A key construct of the book is that of events, which provide force, movement, and continuity to organizational life.

The book is suitable for scholars and advanced level students in organization studies, management studies, technology studies, and sociology. It contains a number of practical examples to illustrate the theoretical framework.

Tor Hernes, Professor; Adjunct Professor, Department of Organization, Copenhagen Business; Vestfold University College, Norway

Tor Hernes is Professor of Organization Theory at Copenhagen Business School and Vestfold University College, Norway, where he teaches and carries out research on process thinking and organization. He has published a dozen books as well as process related articles in top tier European and American journals. He is a leading figure in the emerging field of process thinking in organization studies. He is co-editor of the forthcoming Oxford Handbook of Process Philosophy and Organization Studies and co-chair of the EGOS Standing Working Group on process thinking and organization.