Work, Wealth, and Postmodernism

Description

This work examines the rise of postmodernism in management scholarship and argues that the prevalence of postmodernist thought reflects a lack of understanding by management researchers of the core principles upon which Western business endeavour is based. The author highlights postmodernism’s methodological and conceptual failings, such as disbelief in material progress and economic advancement, and its denial of generalizable laws to direct management research. In its place, the author proposes a return to traditional modernist principles in management research, based on scientific evidence. This ground breaking, timely work will spark debate and challenge previously accepted claims of postmodernism, a nice retort to the anti-business/anti-capitalist literature now prevalent in academia. Front Matter ....Pages i-xxi Introduction (Bradley Bowden)....Pages 1-25 Front Matter ....Pages 27-30 Intellectual Heritage: Debates at the Roots of Modernity and Postmodernism (Bradley Bowden)....Pages 31-63 Economics and Modernity (Bradley Bowden)....Pages 65-99 The Legitimacy of Modern Management (Bradley Bowden)....Pages 101-137 Front Matter ....Pages 139-141 Structuralism and Postmodernism (Bradley Bowden)....Pages 143-162 The Foundations of Postmodernism (Bradley Bowden)....Pages 163-199 Postmodernism in Business Studies (Bradley Bowden)....Pages 201-252 Front Matter ....Pages 253-255 Work, Wealth, and the Sociology of Postmodernism (Bradley Bowden)....Pages 257-287 Reflections (Bradley Bowden)....Pages 289-316 Back Matter ....Pages 317-341