If Critical Management Studies Is Your Problem

• Published in: Organization (London, England) England), 2008-11, Vol.15 (6), p.912-914
• Main Author: Cooke, Bill
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Critical Theory; Interest Groups; Management; Management science; Organizational Research
• ISSN: 1350-5084; 1461-7323
• DOI: 10.1177/1350508408098425

The contributions in this collection-from Charles Perrow, & Paul Adler, Ann Cunliffe, Eduardo Ibarro-Colado, Sarah Stookey & Hugh Willmott-developed from their contributions to the two keynote sessions I organized (as chair-elect of the CMS Interest Group) at the US Academy of Management meeting in Philadelphia. In organizing the sessions I was keen, recognizing that there was what the editors of Organization subsequently called 'a mood of reflection in CMS', that we try & identify ways forward rather than merely critique. It is arguable, though, that in any proposal to do something new is an implicit concern about what has gone before. A particular (& very rare) pleasure for me as an organizer here was being able to put together a panel of people who I like & respect, & who I thought would have something serious to say. I was particularly keen to have Paul & Hugh present, as people who have not just been there from the start intellectually, but organizationally; & also to complement them with people-Charles, Ann, Eduardo & Sarah-who are outstanding for their own intellectual &/or organizational contributions, in CMS & elsewhere. These latter people also, from my perspective, represent voices not heard as much as they should be in CMS. More, the absences of such voices are not noticed as much as they should be either. For me these absences signify particular concerns I have about class, affluence, locality, masculinity & age, & the way these play out in CMS career paths & practices. [Reprinted by permission of Sage Publications Ltd., copyright 2008.]