Postmodernism and Action

Abstract

This paper explores the growing critique of postmodernism within organization studies. It first outlines central aspects of this critique, such as the allegation that postmodernism tends towards a reactionary stance, its dubious epochal status and the incompatibility of postmodernist epistemology with `serious' organizational analysis. The paper pays particular attention to the conflict between postmodern epistemology and the need for action, since it is argued that this remains a central dilemma created by postmodernist debates. Feminist discourse is drawn on in order to examine the difficulties, as well as the possibilities, of squaring postmodern epistemology with action. The remainder of the paper focuses on the critique of postmodernism within organization studies, and relates this critique to the work of feminist writers.