Abstract
The present chapter analyses the post-bureaucratic phenomenon, adopting a socio-cultural perspective and post-modern approach. According to the theoretical perspective proposed in this chapter, organizational systems should be considered a specific type of socio - cultural system. The apparent paradox of the dual nature of organizational systems, that may be conceived at the same time as autonomous and as interconnected socio-cultural realities, offers an extraordinary conceptual and methodological challenge for organization studies. The duality of complex organizations dynamics is, according to the theoretical perspective adopted in this chapter, also one of the key concepts to unlock the real nature of post-bureaucratic organization, beyond the dichotomic approach adopted by post-Weberian studies. Moreover, post-bureaucratic organizations, may be seen also as hybrid organizations (Bergquist, 1994), that are characterized by a high agree of cultural variety. This chapter proposes an integrated theoretical framework, aimed to recompose the apparent incoherent picture of contemporary post-bureaucratic organizations. The present chapter analyses the post-bureaucratic phenomenon, adopting a socio-cultural perspective and post-modern approach. According to the theoretical perspective proposed in this chapter, organizational systems should be considered a specific type of socio - cultural system. The apparent paradox of the dual nature of organizational systems, that may be conceived at the same time as autonomous and as interconnected socio-cultural realities, offers an extraordinary conceptual and methodological challenge for organization studies. The duality of complex organizations dynamics is, according to the theoretical perspective adopted in this chapter, also one of the key concepts to unlock the real nature of post-bureaucratic organization, beyond the dichotomic approach adopted by post-Weberian studies. Moreover, post-bureaucratic organizations, may be seen also as hybrid organizations, that are characterized by a high agree of cultural variety. This chapter proposes an integrated theoretical framework, aimed to recompose the apparent incoherent picture of contemporary post-bureaucratic organizations.
Uma folha qualquer Eu desenho um sol amarelo (Que descolorirá!)
E com cinco ou seis retas É fácil fazer um castelo (Que descolorirá!)
Giro um simples compass Num círculo eu faço O mundo (Que descolorirá!)...
Aquarela (Watercolour), Toquinho
TopBackground
According to the theoretical premise proposed below, it is possible to assume that complex organizations are sociocultural (sub)systems, that cannot be considered, perhaps today more than in the past, monolithic entities, impervious to the wider sociocultural world. In other words, “It is not possible to speak of a culture of organizations as if it were a unique, coherent system of models and values: the plurality of cultural influences present in the highly differentiated contemporary societies is reflected also on the situations inside these organizations” (Crespi,1996, p. 229).