Theory and Method in Organization Studies: Paradigms and Choices

In this introduction to theory and method, students of organization will find a comprehensive view of the key theories in their field, combined with a toolkit of guidelines linking these to the different methods available for analyzing and interpreting organizational life.

Distinguishing 'the external society' and the 'internal society', Antonio Strati sheds light on the different contexts that shape organizational life and the different levels of analysis that may be used. By showing the many levels at which organizations function and can be understood this book provides an invaluable introduction to analysis and research for advanced students. Recent concepts such as 'the organization as hypertext'; 'communities of practi

In this introduction to theory and method, students of organization will find a comprehensive view of the key theories in their field, combined with a toolkit of guidelines linking these to the different methods available for analyzing and interpreting organizational life.

Distinguishing 'the external society' and the 'internal society', Antonio Strati sheds light on the different contexts that shape organizational life and the different levels of analysis that may be used. By showing the many levels at which organizations function and can be understood this book provides an invaluable introduction to analysis and research for advanced students.

He is one of the founders of the research unit RUCOLA.

Sociologist, he holds also a degree in Humanities (University of Florence) and is specialised in Action Research in Organization studies (Tavistock Institute of Human Relations, London, UK).

He lectures on Sociology of Organization at the Faculty of Sociology, University of Trento, and teaches A Photographic Look at Work and Organization at Sciences Po in Paris. He is chercheur associé of the Centre de Recherche en Gestion, École Polytechnique, Paris, and Visiting International Fellow of the Advanced Institute of Management, University of St. Andrews, Scotland. Former vice-dean of the Faculty of Sociology, he was president of the Master Degree in Work, Organization and Information Systems, University of Trento, and coordinator of the teaching programme on qualitative methods in social research of the Doctoral School in Sociology and social research of Trento.

His book Organization and Aesthetics is published in English (Sage, 1999), in French (PUL, 2004), in Portuguese (FGV, 2007), and in Italian (Mondadori, 2008). He is also author of the book Theory and Method in Organization Studies (Sage, 2000) and of a number of essays that have appeared in international journals.

Some of his “photopoems” – his artistic research in conceptual photography – are published in books and journals, and are collected by the Bibliothèque Nationale de France (Paris), the Museum of Contemporary Photography (Cinisello Balsamo, Milan), the Polaroid Collections (Cambridge, Mass., USA), and the West Licht-Schauplatz für Fotografie (Wien) among a number of Collections.

Research interests His main research interests focus on qualitative methods and practice-based theorizing to understand aesthetics, tacit knowledge, and symbolism in organisational life.