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Schatzki and Techno-Organizational Practice

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Materiality and Managerial Techniques

Part of the book series: Technology, Work and Globalization ((TWG))

Abstract

This chapter explores a possibility of an activity-based view of sociomateriality. It argues that the treatment of sociomaterial practices and the corresponding debates have tended to prioritize epistemology over ontology and scarce emphasis has been paid to metaphysical assumptions; and that sociomaterial studies have tended not to recognize the differences in metaphysical assumptions between the practice theories of actions and theories of arrangements. In extending Schatzki’s practice theory to the study of techno-organizational phenomena, the specific objectives here are to examine the ontological status of practice in sociomateriality research and to offer an activity-based conceptualization of sociomaterial practice. The key argument advanced is that a theory of actions may address sociomaterial ‘doing’ and account more fully for the role of technology in organizing.

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Morgan-Thomas, A. (2018). Schatzki and Techno-Organizational Practice. In: Mitev, N., Morgan-Thomas, A., Lorino, P., de Vaujany, FX., Nama, Y. (eds) Materiality and Managerial Techniques . Technology, Work and Globalization. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-66101-8_12

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