Imagining Desirable Futures: A call for prospective theorizing with speculative rigour
Organization Theory,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
5(1)
Published: Jan. 1, 2024
With
the
looming
planetary
emergency,
future
will
be
anything
but
an
extension
of
past.
Yet
theorizing
poses
a
peculiar
problem.
By
definition,
it
is
not
present
yet.
The
conundrum
that
requires
conceptualizing
and
what
(yet)
observable
does
exist.
Scholars
have
called
for
more
impactful
theories;
we
argue
one
powerful
avenue
to
make
organizational
theories
them
future-oriented.
In
this
article,
call
prospective
theorizing,
which
define
as
future-oriented
approach
concerned
with
imagining
desirable
futures.
First,
involves
shift
along
two
dimensions
(onto-epistemological
axiological):
from
projection
imagination,
values-neutral
values-led
theorizing.
Second,
suggest
promote
practices
might
enable
such
shift,
distinguishing
between
inputs,
throughputs
outputs
Third,
scientifically
evaluable
rigorous,
develop
notion
speculative
rigour,
outline
criteria
generative
potency,
process
transparency,
plausible
desirability
plausibility.
Overall,
adds
greater
plurality
in
our
towards
(re)generative
scholarship
Language: Английский
The Mission (Im)possible of Climate Action through Quixotic Institutional Work
Journal of Management Studies,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: Feb. 22, 2025
Abstract
The
‘iron
cage’
of
the
(neo‐)
liberal‐capitalist
system
prioritizes
economic
returns
over
climate
protection.
Formerly
powerful
nation‐states
are
subordinated
to
rule
markets,
whereas
business
elites
have
been
freed
from
substantial
responsibility
for
social
and
environmental
concerns.
While
we
agree
in
principle
with
Point
that
a
reassertion
state
power
may
facilitate
more
decided
action,
our
Counterpoint
adopts
cultural
institutionalist
perspective
highlights
embeddedness
actors
broader
order.
From
this
perspective,
enact
scripts
while
often
lacking
substantive
agency
towards
protecting
natural
environment.
Cultural
change
meanings,
myths,
practices,
rituals
is
needed
remodel
currently
dominant
templates
modern,
‘world
society’,
including
script
actorhood.
We
suggest
notion
‘quixotic
institutional
work’
as
way
envisioning
prefiguring
alternative
when
both
physical
reality
start
showing
cracks
due
crisis.
Quixotic
work
follows
logic
appropriateness
rather
than
consequential
purposiveness,
thus
constitutes
different,
overlooked
mocked,
form
systems
relevant
light
forces
maintaining
an
unsustainable
world
Language: Английский
Future Making: Towards a Practice Perspective
Journal of Management Studies,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: March 20, 2025
Abstract
Management
scholars
are
increasingly
interested
in
‘future
making’,
observing
and
theorizing
how
organizational
actors
produce
enact
the
yet‐to‐come.
However,
rapid
growth
of
conversation
runs
risk
emptying
notion
future
making,
calling
into
question
its
meaning
relevance.
In
response
to
these
concerns,
our
Point
is
that
there
value
understanding
making
from
a
practice
perspective.
A
perspective,
we
argue,
empirically
sufficiently
open
account
for
plurality
open‐endedness
futures
amidst
continual
emergence
interrelated
crises,
large‐scale
challenges,
intractable
technologies.
Thus,
it
reinforces
relevance
research
on
as
central
part
contemporary
life.
At
same
time,
four
practice‐based
dimensions
elaborated
this
provide
sufficient
conceptual
specificity
discern
what
counts
does
not,
thereby
providing
solid
ground
cumulative
theory‐building
area.
Our
extends
management
studies
by
substantiating
examining
articulating
clarifying
perspective
directs
scholarly
attention
important
areas
research.
Language: Английский
Back to the Future? A Caution
Journal of Management Studies,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: March 26, 2025
Abstract
This
Counterpoint
cautions
that
future
making
research
treats
the
too
simplistically
and
fails
to
acknowledge
fundamental
uncertainty
inherent
in
all
futures
work.
First,
scholarship
overlooks
existing
academic
research,
which
similar
concerns
have
been
pursued,
empirically
conceptually,
for
years.
Second,
utopian
are
considered
achievable
if
only
actors
a
vision
of
what
they
wish
create.
Finally,
most
statements
around
grand
challenges
rely
on
little
more
than
hope,
failing
account
complex
relationalities
shaping
them.
I
substantiate
my
argument
by
drawing
scenario
planning
literature,
Knightian
uncertainty,
anthropology
research.
also
critique
Point's
call
scholars
adopt
practice‐based
approaches
(Wenzel
et
al.,
forthcoming)
their
empirical
inquiries,
arguing
‘as
Practice’
move
management
studies
is
yet
achieve
its
aspirations.
Additionally,
caution
against
other
this
debate
requires
realization
desired
emancipatory
(Comi
forthcoming),
as
view
restrictive
broad
deep
theorizing
emerge.
Language: Английский
Prescriptive Theorizing to Tackle Societal Grand Challenges: Promises and Perils
Journal of Management Studies,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
61(4), P. 1683 - 1691
Published: Feb. 18, 2024
Abstract
Descriptive
and
prescriptive
theorizing
are
two
sides
of
the
same
coin
fundamentally
complementary,
if
not
reciprocal
in
their
relationship.
Both
have
a
place
management
theorizing,
yet
this
Point‐Counterpoint
debate
takes
issue
with
how
they
currently
performed
research.
The
Point
makes
case
for
to
help
tackle
societal
grand
challenges
meaningfully
impact
practice,
it
offers
recipe
doing
on
solid
normative
foundation.
Counterpoint
cautions
against
that
such
prescriptions
may
calls
more
contextualized
approaches.
In
introduction
debate,
I
intend
take
conversation
both
provoked
even
further
by
highlighting
some
under‐emphasized
but
important
theoretical
avenues
examine
(un)intended
consequences
descriptive
theorizing;
namely
mobilizing
research
performativity
counter‐performativity.
Language: Английский
What is the Strategy of Strategy to Tackle Climate Change?
Journal of Management Studies,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: June 6, 2024
Abstract
To
effectively
tackle
climate
change,
the
strategic
management
enterprise
needs
to
fundamentally
reinvent
itself.
In
their
Point
,
Bansal,
Durand,
Kreutzer,
Kunisch
and
McGahan
forcefully
argue
for
such
a
turnaround
outline
‘new
strategy’
paradigm
that
integrates
constraints
of
planetary
boundaries
Earth
systems
not
as
an
afterthought,
but
basis
inquiry.
This,
however,
doesn't
come
without
fierce
contestation,
shown
by
Counterpoint
Foss
Klein
further
Davis
DeWitt.
this
introduction
Point‐Counterpoint
debate
on
we
contestation
is
largely
due
what
call
three
epistemic
fault
lines
cut
through
how
strategy
scholars
understand
devise
possible
solutions,
assume
relationship
between
theories
reality.
We
specify
these
connect
them
important
avenues
future
research
expand
conversation
about
change.
Language: Английский
Transforming Management Education: Insights from Social‐Ecological Systems and Social Innovation Research
Journal of Management Studies,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: Nov. 17, 2024
Abstract
It
is
clear
that
contemporary
management
education
(ME)
needs
to
be
transformed
tackle
complex
social‐ecological
crises
effectively.
However,
the
concept
of
transformation
often
ill‐defined
in
context
ME;
while
there
also
a
lack
understanding
about
what
concrete
trajectories
(also
called
scaling
pathways)
are
available
educators.
This
conceptual
paper
adopts
systems
lens
shed
light
on
basics
(the
why,
what,
where,
when
and
who);
combined
with
social
innovation
provide
more
clarity
transformation's
practical
specificity
how).
Rooted
vision
ME
aimed
at
cultivating
flourishing
(i.e.
civic
ME),
this
integrates
different
theoretical
lenses
assert
possibility
of–and
outline
for–transformation
business
school.
work
contributes
developing
approach
proposing
multiple
pathways
support
ME.
highlights
stands
crossroads:
educators
could
passively
wait
until
forced
by
unintended
crossing
tipping
points;
or
deliberately
collectively
navigate
it.
Ultimately,
emerges
from
delicate
interplay
structure
inescapable
structural
barriers)
agency
intentional
transformative
actions).
Language: Английский
From schools of thought to an ecology of practices: Categorizing circular economy's futures
Journal of Industrial Ecology,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
28(6), P. 1730 - 1742
Published: Oct. 8, 2024
Abstract
In
response
to
pressing
societal
challenges,
scholars
are
increasingly
focusing
on
research
aimed
at
fostering
sustainable
futures.
We
contribute
that
discussion
by
theorizing
the
circular
economy
(CE)
as
an
“ecology
of
practices.”
The
ecology
practices
concept
helps
make
sense
a
developing
field
has
been
heavily
practitioner‐driven.
Through
analysis
diverse
CE
in
analytical
and
operational
contexts,
we
investigate
roles,
disciplinary
influences,
visions
for
future
categorize
their
trajectories.
Drawing
sociology
expectations,
consider
articulations
practice,
advocating
inclusive
dialogue
among
stakeholders
collective
engagement
with
ontological
multiplicity
shaping
propose
framework
contributes
broader
debates
organization
management
studies,
emphasizing
significance
everyday
futures
beyond
realm
CE.
so
doing,
focus
unpicking
how
variously
enacted
way
enabling
collaboration
might
otherwise
be
hindered
obligations.
Language: Английский