Social theorists speculate about large-scale social questions, asking of any phenomenon, how is it possible? This book addresses how social theories contribute key insights into the nature of organizations and management. Chapters include objectives, reflective questions and a glossary.

List of contributors. 1. Management, organizations and contemporary social theory. 2. Harold Garfinkel and ethnomethodology. 3. Actor-Network Theory: Michel Callon, Bruno Latour, John Law. 4. Anthony Giddens and structuration theory. 5. Morphogenesis and reflexivity: Margaret Archer, critical realism and organizational analysis. 6. Pierre Bourdieu and Elites: making the hidden visible. 7. Theodore Schatzki's practice theory and its implications for organization studies. 8. Mary Douglas and institutions. 9. Norbert Elias and organizational analysis: towards process-figurational theory. 10. Niklas Luhmann and organizations as social systems. 11. Organizing Michel Foucault: power, knowledge and governmentality. 12. The Frankfurt School and critical theory. 13. Judith Butler and performativity. 14. Manuel Castells and informationalism. 15. Liquefying modernity: Zygmunt Bauman as organization theorist. 16. Management, organizations and contemporary social theory: an index of possibilities. Index.