Foundations in Humanistic Management Reading Group
A virtual seminar series by the IHMA PhD Network
Welcome to the Foundations in Humanistic Management Reading Group. We meet monthly to discuss significant papers on incorporating humanistic ideas such as dignity and well-being into management scholarship and practice, as well as classic works which have spoken to these concerns across the ages. This series is hosted by the IHMA’s Humanistic Management PhD Network for the purpose of supporting new scholars intellectually, broadening awareness of existing theory, and framing opportunities for future research.
Each week we will consider a small number of articles and possible a selection from a classic work. The readings will be shared a week or so before the meeting and preparation is encouraged, but not required. For the benefit of all, a participant or moderator will summarize the readings at the beginning of the discussion.
This month we’re experimenting with something new. Rather than looking at self-consciously humanistic articles as exemplars, we will dive into two articles that address central concepts in neo-institutional theory to ask critical questions including “does this perspective place human dignity and wellbeing at the center of theory, research, and practice?” and “how might we reframe theory to incorporate more humanistic perspective?”. This session will be jointly led by Celeste Diaz Ferraro, doctoral candidate at Penn State University, and Tyson Rallens, doctoral candidate at University of Oxford.
Event Date/Time: April 8, 2019 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. EDT (UTC-5)
The articles for discussion this month are:
- Suchman, M. C. (1995). Managing Legitimacy: Strategic and Institutional Approaches. The Academy of Management Review, 20, 571–610. Link to article on JSTOR
- Zietsma, C., & Lawrence, T. B. (2010). Institutional Work in the Transformation of an Organizational Field: The Interplay of Boundary Work and Practice Work. Administrative Science Quarterly, 55, 189–221. Link to article on JSTOR
The first of these articles is a classic foundational work on legitimacy, a central concept in neo-institutional theory. The second contemporary work concerns fields, also central to institutional theory, while engaging both micro and macro perspectives in the roles of individuals and institutions in field change. If you are unable to access the readings, please contact cmd68@psu.edu or tyson.rallens@sbs.ox.ac.uk for assistance.
To help foster engaging discussion during our live gathering on the zoom platform, we have created a discussion forum for participants to share questions and thought-starters ahead of time. Please visit https://sites.psu.edu/ihmaphdnetwork to read others’ observations and share your thoughts. The facilitators will begin the live reading group session with a brief summary of the articles, then offer initial questions for discussion by all participants. Participants are welcome to surface questions and engage to their level of comfort. Due to global differences in internet bandwidth availability, participants are welcome to join the zoom platform discussion in video mode or in audio-only mode.
About the IHMA Foundations in Humanistic Management Reading Group: This series is hosted by the Humanistic Management PhD Network for the purpose of supporting new scholars intellectually, broadening awareness of existing theory, and framing opportunities for future research. Each month we will consider a small number of significant contemporary and classic readings, and discuss in a virtual environment to share perspectives on incorporating humanistic ideas such as dignity and well-being into management scholarship and practice. Preparation is encouraged, but not required, and scholars of all levels and interests are welcome. We especially encourage participants to suggest future reading topics. Recent participant suggestions have included Claus Dierksmeier on virtue ethics in business, Jonathan Haidt on moral foundations theory, and scholarship on the transformation of business schools. For more information about IHMA, please visit http://www.humanisticmanagement.international
This event is sponsored by the Institute for Ethics in Business at Duquesne University, in Pittsburgh.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/copy-of-humanistic-management-phd-reading-group-april-8-2019-tickets-59535761064