Conceptualizing Complex Meaning Systems: the Case of Management Fads

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Conceptualizing Complex Meaning Systems: the Case of Management Fads Conceptualizing complex meaning systems: The case of management fads A thesis presented to the Queensland University of Technology In fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY By Wendy Corfield B.A., Grad. Dip Ed. Student #: 00482129 December 2006 Creative Industries Research and Applications Centre Creative Industries Faculty QUEENSLAND UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY THESIS EXAMINATION CANDIDATE NAME: Wendy Corfield CENTRE: CIRAC RESEARCH CONCENTRATION: CREATIVE INDUSTRIES PRINCIPAL SUPERVISOR Prof. Greg Hearn ASSOCIATE SUPERVISOR: Dr Caroline Hatcher THESIS TITLE: Conceptualizing complex meaning systems: The case of management fads Under the requirements of PhD regulation 9.2, the above candidate is to be examined orally by the Faculty. The members of the panel set up for this examination will recommend that the thesis be accepted by the University and forwarded to the appointed Committee for examination. Name: Prof. Greg Hearn Signature…………............................................... Panel Chairperson (Principal Supervisor) Name: Prof. Stephen Towers Signature…………............................................... Panel Member (Associate Supervisor) Keywords: meaning, philosophy, complex systems, management fads, management gurus, decision making, emergence, epistemology, ontology i Table of Contents Keywords: ............................................................................................................i Table of Contents ................................................................................................. ii List of figures and tables .................................................................................... vii Acknowledgements ..............................................................................................x Chapter 1: The Field of Study and Introduction to the Problem...........................1 1.1 Overview of the research....................................................................1 1.2 Viewing social systems through the lens of complex systems............5 1.3 Seminal theorists working within the nexus of sociocultural systems and complex systems theory .....................................................................7 1.3.1 Donald T. Campbell's concept of evolutionary epistemology............................ 8 1.3.2 Jay Lemke's notion of ecosocial systems...................................................... 8 1.3.3 Paul Cilliers' theory of representation............................................................ 9 1.4 Complex Meaning Systems..............................................................10 1.5 Management fads: characteristics and critique ................................12 1.6 A Note on Research Methodology....................................................17 1.7 Contribution of this Thesis ................................................................18 Chapter 2: Theorising Meaning ................................................................................20 2.1 Towards a framework for theorising meaning...................................20 2.2 Meaning – some preliminary thoughts..............................................23 2.3 Can Meaning be Captured as a System?.........................................27 2.4 Meaning: Digging deeper .................................................................29 2.4.1 Lakoff & Johnson.......................................................................................... 29 ii 2.4.2 Paul Cilliers................................................................................................... 30 2.4.3 Niklas Luhmann............................................................................................ 30 2.5 Thought as a system ........................................................................34 2.6 Caveats and limitations ....................................................................35 2.6.1 Caution on modelling.................................................................................... 35 2.6.2 Why Not Pursue a Foucauldian Analysis? ................................................... 36 2.6.3 Language as a System................................................................................. 36 2.7 Conclusion........................................................................................36 Chapter 3: Complex systems and social phenomena: Key concepts ...................38 3.1 Introduction.......................................................................................38 3.2 Complex Systems and Social Meaning ............................................39 3.3 Complex Systems Applied to Social Phenomena.............................42 3.4 Networks ..........................................................................................44 3.5 Pattern and Complexity ....................................................................47 3.6 The Relationship between Networks and Patterns...........................50 3.7 Form and pattern; substance and matter..........................................52 3.8 Complexity and Knowledge ..............................................................55 3.9 Caveats ...........................................................................................56 3.10 Conclusion...............................................................................................57 Chapter 4: Sociocultural Systems as Complex Meaning Systems........................59 4.1 Introduction......................................................................................59 4.2 Autopoiesis – comparing living systems to social systems...............62 4.3 Social systems as autopoietic models .............................................64 iii 4.3.1 Evolution in autopoietic theory...................................................................... 66 4.3.2 Organisations as social systems ................................................................. 69 4.4 The role of the observer ...................................................................70 4.5 The nexus between complex systems and social systems: Three unique perspectives – Donald Campbell, Jay Lemke and Paul Cilliers .........................................................................................................73 4.5.1 Evolutionary epistemology – Donald T. Campbell........................................ 74 4.5.1.1 Evolutionary epistemology in social systems............................................ 75 4.5.2 Jay Lemke’s social semiotics and cultural dynamics.................................... 78 4.5.3 Paul Cilliers’ theory of representation........................................................... 83 4.6 Complex meaning systems – towards a model ................................84 4.7 Conclusion........................................................................................89 Chapter 5: Management Fads – Characteristics and Examples............................91 5.1 Introduction.......................................................................................91 5.2 What is a management fad?.............................................................92 5.2.1 Some management fads and interventions .................................................. 96 5.3 How fads develop – the life-cycle of fads .........................................98 5.3.1 Buzzwords...................................................................................................... 100 5.3.2 Two researched examples – Miller et al 2004 and Rigby 2001.................. 102 5.3.2.1 Miller et al (2004).................................................................................... 102 5.3.2.2 Darrell Rigby (2001)............................................................................... 104 5.4 The characteristics of fads..............................................................107 5.5 Who are the management fad gurus? ...........................................110 5.6 Conclusions....................................................................................114 iv Chapter 6: Management Fads – The Critical Literature .....................................117 6.1 Introduction.....................................................................................117 6.2 Management theories and management fads ................................118 6.2.1 How management fads change over time. ................................................. 119 6.2.2 The uneasy relationship between management theory and management fads 121 6.2.3 Management education .............................................................................. 123 6.3 Toward a framework for critical analysis.........................................124 6.3.1 Rational/practical critique ........................................................................... 124 6.3.2 Hagiologic criticism..................................................................................... 132 Homages and hagiologies........................................................................................ 134 Redemptive texts...................................................................................................... 135 Agnostics and atheists ............................................................................................. 137 Some problems with Collins’ hypothesis .................................................................. 138 6.3.3 Rhetorical critique......................................................................................
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