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Dominant Ideological Modes of Rationality: Organizations as Arenas of Struggle Over Members’ Categorization Devices

Rethinking Power in Organizations, Institutions, and Markets

ISBN: 978-1-78052-664-5, eISBN: 978-1-78052-665-2

Publication date: 5 April 2012

Abstract

This chapter explores dominant ideologies theoretically in an organizational setting. A framework is developed to advance our understanding of how ‘dominant ideological modes of rationality’ reflect predictability through the reproduction of accepted truths, hence social order in organization. Dominant ideological modes of rationality constitute professional identity, power relations, and rationality and frame prevailing mentalities and social practices in organization. It is suggested that members’ categorization devices structure and constrain social practices. Supplementing the existent power literature, the chapter concludes that professional identity produces rationality, power and truth – truth being the overarching concept assembled through the rationalities assembled in professional members’ categorization devices. Research and managerial implications are discussed.

Keywords

Citation

Vad Baunsgaard, V. and Clegg, S. (2012), "Dominant Ideological Modes of Rationality: Organizations as Arenas of Struggle Over Members’ Categorization Devices", Courpasson, D., Golsorkhi, D. and Sallaz, J.J. (Ed.) Rethinking Power in Organizations, Institutions, and Markets (Research in the Sociology of Organizations, Vol. 34), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 199-232. https://doi.org/10.1108/S0733-558X(2012)0000034010

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2012, Emerald Group Publishing Limited