Genealogy

Erik C. Taylor

Chapter 62 in Elgar Encyclopedia of Historical Organisation Studies, 2026, pp 229-231 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: Genealogy in management and organization studies (MOS) is a methodological approach that examines the historical emergence of managerial concepts, institutions and practices. Unlike linear historical narratives, genealogy problematizes dominant assumptions, tracing how power struggles, discourse, and rhetorical history shape organizational knowledge. Seminal scholars such as Foucault and Nietzsche emphasize discontinuities and contingency, revealing that managerial ‘truths’ are socially constructed rather than naturally evolved. Recent applications in MOS include corporate identity formation, labor relations and governance structures. The genealogical-pragmatic approach, in particular, further extends genealogy by integrating reconstructive solutions, offering historically informed alternatives to contemporary organizational challenges.

Keywords: Historical contingency; Rhetorical history; Power-knowledge; Historical methods; Genealogical pragmatism (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781035332922
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