Editorial

Introduction: Special Symposium “Carnegie school and organization studies”

The quest for originality and utility

As time goes by, research scholars in management and organization studies seem to forget or disregard their theoretical roots. Beyond the repeated argument about the youth of the organization studies field – the field has not actually “lost memory”, it simply has no history and therefore cannot have a memory – at least three arguments have been advanced to explain – and sometimes justify – the relative amnesia of organization studies scholars.

The first argument points to the “publish or perish”

Limits and interests of fantasy

As time goes by, another syndrome can affect scholars in organization studies: their unusual and unconscious ability to fantasize their readings. Some research may inflict to classics amazing or unlikely extensions and distortions to the extent that other academics eventually come to wonder if they read the “same” thing. Actually, each individual and intimate processes of scientific knowledge creating, involves serendipity, imagination and bricolage. For instance, the semiotician Umberto Eco