New knowledge products as bricolage: Metaphors and scripts in organizational theory

Eva Boxenbaum () and Linda Rouleau ()
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Eva Boxenbaum: CGS i3 - Centre de Gestion Scientifique i3 - Mines Paris - PSL (École nationale supérieure des mines de Paris) - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - I3 - Institut interdisciplinaire de l’innovation - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique

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Abstract: We argue that three epistemic scripts of knowledge production--evolution, differentiation, and bricolage--underpin the production--that is, the conception and the presentation--of new organizational theories. Bricolage of concepts, empirical material, and metaphors enables the conception of new theories, whereas evolution and differentiation, carrying higher academic legitimacy, predominate in theory presentation. We develop an integrative model and provide an illustration from organizational institutionalism to delineate how metaphors and scripts influence organizational theory production.

Keywords: Institutional theory; metaphors; theory building; théorie institutionnelle; métaphores; conception de la théorie (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2011-05-01
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (39)

Published in Academy of Management Review, 2011, 36 (2), pp.272-296

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hal:journl:hal-00719599

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