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Journal ArticleDOI

Locating the 17th Book of Giddens@@@The Constitution of Society: Outline of the Theory of Structuration.

01 May 1986-Contemporary Sociology-Vol. 15, Iss: 3, pp 344
TL;DR: Giddens as mentioned in this paper has been in the forefront of developments in social theory for the past decade and outlines the distinctive position he has evolved during that period and offers a full statement of a major new perspective in social thought, a synthesis and elaboration of ideas touched on in previous works but described here for the first time in an integrated and comprehensive form.
Abstract: Anthony Giddens has been in the forefront of developments in social theory for the past decade. In "The Constitution of Society" he outlines the distinctive position he has evolved during that period and offers a full statement of a major new perspective in social thought, a synthesis and elaboration of ideas touched on in previous works but described here for the first time in an integrated and comprehensive form. A particular feature is Giddens' concern to connect abstract problems of theory to an interpretation of the nature of empirical method in the social sciences. In presenting his own ideas, Giddens mounts a critical attack on some of the more orthodox sociological views. "The Constitution of Society" is an invaluable reference book for all those concerned with the basic issues in contemporary social theory.
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TL;DR: In this paper, the authors compare and contrast how each perspective incorporates the effects of individual actors, tacit knowledge, ambidexterity, and context specificity, and find that the two streams of work have distinct trajectories and strengths, but elements of each can be complementary to developing a more holistic understanding of organizational routines.
Abstract: Organizational routines, repetitive patterns of interdependent organizational actions, have been investigated through the lens of capabilities, rooted in organizational economics, and the lens of practice, grounded in organization theory. The former approach emphasizes the “what” or “why,” while the latter emphasizes the “how.” In this review, we summarize both of these literatures and explore recent empirical studies in each stream, identifying common themes. In particular, we compare and contrast how each perspective incorporates the effects of individual actors, tacit knowledge, ambidexterity, and context specificity. We find that the two streams of work have distinct trajectories and strengths, but elements of each can be complementary to developing a more holistic understanding of organizational routines.

368 citations


Cites background from "Locating the 17th Book of Giddens@@..."

  • ...Practice theory draws from the work of a number of social theorists (Bourdieu, 1977 , 1990 ; Giddens, 1984 ), each of whom describe how everyday practices are accomplished, reinforced, or changed (Feldman & Orlikowski, 2011 )....

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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The authors argue that consumers are engaged in authentic choices in the construction and communication of self and social meanings, and that these consumption choices can be conceptualized as the exercise of existential freedom, even if constrained by inequalities in the economic system and by ideological hegemony.
Abstract: In postmodernity, consumption is a prime site for the negotiation of conflicting themes of freedom and control. Explores the consumption of symbolic meaning through five consumption dialectics: the material versus the symbolic, the social versus the self, desire versus satisfaction, rationality versus irrationality, and creativity versus constraint. Argues that consumers are engaged in authentic choices in the construction and communication of self and social meanings, and that these consumption choices can be conceptualized as the exercise of existential freedom, even if constrained by inequalities in the economic system and by ideological hegemony.

363 citations


Cites background from "Locating the 17th Book of Giddens@@..."

  • ...Structuration theory (Giddens, 1984) offers a solution to the dualism of structure versus agency, by positing that the “structural properties of social systems are both medium and outcome of the practices they recursively organise”....

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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors define integrative leadership as bringing diverse groups and organizations together in semi-permanent ways to remedy complex public problems and achieve the common good, and highlight the leadership roles and activities of collaboration sponsors and champions.
Abstract: This article presents a theoretical framework for understanding integrative leadership and the creation and maintenance of cross-sector collaborations that create public value. We define integrative leadership as bringing diverse groups and organizations together in semi-permanent ways — and typically across sector boundaries — to remedy complex public problems and achieve the common good. Our framework highlights in particular the leadership roles and activities of collaboration sponsors and champions. The framework is illustrated with examples from the development of MetroGIS, a geographic information system that promotes better public problem-solving in the Minneapolis–St. Paul region of the US. A set of propositions is offered to guide further research and to prompt reflective practice.

362 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors propose a framework to analyse power in policy practices based on the so-called policy arrangement approach, which combines elements of the old and new policy vocabularies.
Abstract: During the last few decades, both policy practices and policy idioms have drastically changed. Concepts such as interactive planning, network management, stakeholder dialogue, deliberative democracy, policy discourses, governance, etc. have replaced older ones such as public administration, policy programmes, interest groups, institutions, power, and the like. Although we recognise the relevance and importance of this shift in vocabulary, we also regret related ‘losses’. We particularly regret that the concept of power has – in our view – become an ‘endangered species’ in the field of public policy analysis. We therefore will develop a framework to analyse power – being a multi-layered concept – in policy practices in this article. We will do so on the basis of the so-called policy arrangement approach, which combines elements of the old and new policy vocabularies. In addition, we draw upon different power theories in developing our argument and model. As a result, we hope to combine the best of two worlds, of the ‘old’ and the ‘new’ idioms in policy studies, and to achieve our two aims: to bring back in the concept of power in current policy analysis and to expand the policy arrangement approach from a power perspective.

361 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors focus on unreflexive practices that both communicate and constitute gender in paid work settings and define them as emergent, directional, temporal, rapid, immediate and indeterminate.
Abstract: In an effort to make visible the subtle and seldom acknowledged aspects of gendering dynamics, Martin focuses on unreflexive practices that both communicate and constitute gender in paid work settings. She reviews the distinction between practices that are culturally available to ‘do gender’ and the literal practising of gender that is constituted through interaction. While acknowledging that agency is involved in any practicing of gender, she considers how intentionality and agency intersect, arguing that people in powerful positions routinely practise gender without being reflexive about it. Defining practising as emergent, directional, temporal, rapid, immediate and indeterminate, Martin shows how these qualities affect men as well as women in unexpected and often harmful ways. She concludes with a call for innovative ways to ‘catch gender in practice’ and for attention to reflexivity's role in the ongoing constitution of gender at work.

361 citations


Cites background from "Locating the 17th Book of Giddens@@..."

  • ...3 Yet, specific incidences of practising even institutionalized practices are never exactly the same (Connell, 1987; Giddens, 1984; Martin, 2004)....

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  • ...An institutionalized practice is defined as one that is widely known and enacted over an extensive period of time across expansive geographical and social space (Giddens, 1984; Martin, 2004)....

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  • ...This point underscores the centrality of practising to gender’s perpetuation in workplaces and other arenas of social life (Connell, 1987; Giddens, 1984)....

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References
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Book
01 Jan 1975

98 citations