Introduction

Abstract

The environment where people organize themselves is fundamentally different than thirty years ago: not only has society as a whole changed under the influence of globalization and technological innovation, the theoretical concepts of the organization and perceptions on the traditional ratio between the private and public sphere are shifting simultaneously. The modern, global society consists of arbitrary, fluid (temporary) networks. The porous separation between the private and the public is fading, which constantly evokes and strengthens discussions on boundaries. We regard the organization as the prototype of these changes in society. In the organization, a proliferating diversity both pushes back and oversteps boundaries, while also demanding new ones. This fundamental movement, which is continuous, must be understood if ‘we’ are to manage it.

In this introductory text, we investigate how organization theory anticipates these shifting ratios caused by contradictory information coming together in what we once called stable and clear organizational frameworks.