Exploring the vulnerability of practice-like activities: an ethnographic perspective
Exploring the vulnerability of practice-like activities: an ethnographic perspective
Introduction: This paper explores the vulnerability of practice-like activities to institutional domination. Methods: This paper offers an ethnographic case study of a UK-based engineering company in the aftermath of its acquisition, focusing in particular on its R&D unit. Results: The Lab struggled to maintain its practice-based work in an institutional environment that emphasized the pursuit of external goods. Discussion: We use this case to develop two arguments. Firstly, we illustrate the concept of “practice-like” activities and explore their vulnerability to institutional domination. Secondly, in light of the style of management on display after the takeover, we offer further support to MacIntyre's critique of management. Finally, based on the empirical data we reflect on the importance of organizational culture, as well as friendship and the achievement of a common good in business organizations for these kinds of activities.
MacIntyre, community, ethnography, friendship, internal goods, management, practices, workplace community
Bolade-Ogunfodun, Yemisi
923c10bb-8085-436b-8992-eec07163de9c
Sinnicks, Matthew
63b27aef-8672-4fa7-b2fa-388c9af51c57
Akrivou, Kleio
6199f4cb-85d9-4b04-a448-e2b30c499c3e
Scalzo, Germán
1314b2ee-b4ab-42c4-88cb-1b328aea1f5f
14 December 2022
Bolade-Ogunfodun, Yemisi
923c10bb-8085-436b-8992-eec07163de9c
Sinnicks, Matthew
63b27aef-8672-4fa7-b2fa-388c9af51c57
Akrivou, Kleio
6199f4cb-85d9-4b04-a448-e2b30c499c3e
Scalzo, Germán
1314b2ee-b4ab-42c4-88cb-1b328aea1f5f
Bolade-Ogunfodun, Yemisi, Sinnicks, Matthew, Akrivou, Kleio and Scalzo, Germán
(2022)
Exploring the vulnerability of practice-like activities: an ethnographic perspective.
Frontiers in Sociology, 7, [1003741].
(doi:10.3389/fsoc.2022.1003741).
Abstract
Introduction: This paper explores the vulnerability of practice-like activities to institutional domination. Methods: This paper offers an ethnographic case study of a UK-based engineering company in the aftermath of its acquisition, focusing in particular on its R&D unit. Results: The Lab struggled to maintain its practice-based work in an institutional environment that emphasized the pursuit of external goods. Discussion: We use this case to develop two arguments. Firstly, we illustrate the concept of “practice-like” activities and explore their vulnerability to institutional domination. Secondly, in light of the style of management on display after the takeover, we offer further support to MacIntyre's critique of management. Finally, based on the empirical data we reflect on the importance of organizational culture, as well as friendship and the achievement of a common good in business organizations for these kinds of activities.
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fsoc-07-1003741
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More information
Accepted/In Press date: 14 November 2022
e-pub ahead of print date: 14 December 2022
Published date: 14 December 2022
Additional Information:
Funding Information:
We acknowledge the University of Reading Open Access funding scheme for kindly agreeing to fully cover the funding cost for this Open Access work.
Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2022 Bolade-Ogunfodun, Sinnicks, Akrivou and Scalzo.
Keywords:
MacIntyre, community, ethnography, friendship, internal goods, management, practices, workplace community
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 472716
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/472716
ISSN: 2297-7775
PURE UUID: 3d343618-e05d-4f2f-a14f-6527c1473fcd
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Date deposited: 15 Dec 2022 17:42
Last modified: 17 Mar 2024 04:13
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Contributors
Author:
Yemisi Bolade-Ogunfodun
Author:
Matthew Sinnicks
Author:
Kleio Akrivou
Author:
Germán Scalzo
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