New Viewpoints

Abstract

This chapter introduces some basic sociological and organizational theory concepts and provides a set of working definitions drawn from the literature of those disciplines. It explains that structures have rules and demonstrates the concept in familiar everyday situations. It continues by explaining that structures are in their duality, both a set of rules and resources and a behavior. How through their performance structures are the medium of their propagation. It then explains how routines encapsulate a structure's rules and guide its performance. It explains how routines have two aspects the ostensive, the shared understanding of the routine and a performative the routine's actual execution. It continues by explaining how the performative aspect modifies the ostensive through its repeated reflexive execution. And how ostensive modification is inevitable because complex routines are “inherently improvisational” and are adapted by their actor's situational learning. Finally, it addresses the role and relationship of routines to power, authority and legitimacy.