Interpretivism Flashcards
What is the interpretivist critique of functionalism?
Too general, mechanical, detached (Boiling water) choice
What does interpretivist seek to do?
understand how we CONSTRUCT MEANINGFUL WORLDS through INTERACTION and how we behave in those worlds (peoples worlds are constructed by people interacting with one another)
Reality is?
Socially constructed
How do interpretivist investigate social reality?
Observation (Not a checklist, more poetic, take in and make sense of what is seen)
Interviews (help understand every individual’s sense of reality)
Archival analysis (existing documents)
What is organizational reality socially constructed through?
Words symbols and behaviors of members, what would an insider say that outsiders may not understand? Behaviors? how people dress, interact with each other
Roles, norms and values (how did they become this way, why do they stay this way. Someone had to make a policy)
To interpretivists organizational structure is?
Complex (Have to look at past, present, future)
Intricately linked to process (Who talks to whom and about what, UWL means different things to different people)
What two things do interpretivist view about the nature of organizations?
A pluralistic view is assumed…individuals have different priorities and aims.
Tend to go away from a managerial bias (everyone’s opinions count
What 3 things do INT believe about communication in an organization?
- Communication is used to (re)construct social reality and social structure constantly
- Communication is meaning centered (artifact and comm between people)
- Emphasis is on understanding the socially-constructed meaning and its effects (cst class numbers show we are an insider)
How does an interpretivist approach the concept of organizational culture differently than a functionalist?
I: Root metaphor, comething the organization is, not in the hands of management
F: Variable- something the organization has, managers believe they can change it.
