Overview

Drawing on contemporary debates in organization theory, this book explores the monsters that populate organizations, what organizations do to these monsters, and how this challenges us to re-construct organization theory. Torkild Thanem first interrogates how organizations and organization theory seek to kill monsters and how organizations exploit the monstrous for commercial purposes - from the alien monsters of the sci-fi entertainment industry to the monstrous branding of energy drinks and the organic-synthetic chimeras produced by biotech and agribusiness companies. He then argues for more diverse, more joyful and more responsible organizations through a positively monstrous theory, politics and ethics of organizational life. Proposing a theory and ontology of organizations beyond poststructuralist constructionism and critical realism, The Monstrous Organization creatively addresses the history and theory of monsters in organizational life. It will appeal to scholars, doctoral students and master's students in management and organization studies, business ethics, diversity management, cultural studies, gender studies and sociology.

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9781845421786

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Reviews

'A beautifully expressed, wonderfully crafted object, transcending the idea of organization theory book ; this is a playfully serious and provocatively modest encounter with the monstrous we inhabit and the monsters we create with our work and everyday life. It made me laugh with embarrassment and cry with joy by prying open much that we, organizational scholars, often try to hide. Finally, our monstrosity was free to roam in the light of what we claim as knowledge! It felt very liberating.' - Marta B. Calas, University of Massachusetts, US 'This book marks a major shift in the way we think and feel about organizations. Radically reconsidering what we see as organizationally normal and abnormal, Thanem shatters the borders of convention to enable the becoming of a new and monstrously radical politics of difference. With reflexivity, sensitivity and courage, this politically and theoretically charged work offers an affirmative alternative to habituated organizational violence and oppression. It does so in the form of a monstrous ethics of organizations. Essential reading for those interested in the best of the latest advances in organization studies.' - Carl Rhodes, Swansea University, UK 'Rather than proceeding with a swinging sword in hand, approaching the many monsters encountered on the way through the brushy woods of the genealogies of organization theoretical thinking visited, excavating contemporary caves of fantastic (conceptual) creatures, Thanem reads from a novel relationship with the monstrous. We are neither warned (as with naturalists or realists) about, nor lured (as with fantasy-, sci-fi-, or romanticists) into the monstrous. Rather, from breathing this thin and cold air, we find ourselves in the relationship too, facing monstrosity starring back, looking for a mate. Invited to experience becoming-monster as we get to exercise our norms as thinkers, analysts, readers, students of organizations, Thanem makes a case for the socio-corporeal ontology of organization. Helping us learn how our assumptions shape our expectations of what to expect from working in and engaging with organizations and organization studies, the cold air we have inhaled leaves us, without surprise, as a warm, embracive breath. Disassembled by the generosity of the multitude (as made specific by Thanem), we are provided with an opportunity to learn to know our own particular heterogeneity, our styles of assembling ourselves to what we have become. Becoming is thereby learnt. Important lessons, both for analysts and practitioners of organizations.' - Daniel Hjorth, Copenhagen Business School, Denmark

'A beautifully expressed, wonderfully crafted object, transcending the idea of ''organization theory book''; this is a playfully serious and provocatively modest encounter with the monstrous we inhabit and the monsters we create with our work and everyday life. It made me laugh with embarrassment and cry with joy by prying open much that we, organizational scholars, often try to hide. Finally, our monstrosity was free to roam in the light of what we claim as knowledge! It felt very liberating.' - Marta B. Calas, University of Massachusetts, US 'This book marks a major shift in the way we think and feel about organizations. Radically reconsidering what we see as organizationally normal and abnormal, Thanem shatters the borders of convention to enable the becoming of a new and monstrously radical politics of difference. With reflexivity, sensitivity and courage, this politically and theoretically charged work offers an affirmative alternative to habituated organizational violence and oppression. It does so in the form of a monstrous ethics of organizations. Essential reading for those interested in the best of the latest advances in organization studies.' - Carl Rhodes, Swansea University, UK 'Rather than proceeding with a swinging sword in hand, approaching the many monsters encountered on the way through the brushy woods of the genealogies of organization theoretical thinking visited, excavating contemporary caves of fantastic (conceptual) creatures, Thanem reads from a novel relationship with the monstrous. We are neither warned (as with naturalists or realists) about, nor lured (as with fantasy-, sci-fi-, or romanticists) into the monstrous. Rather, from breathing this thin and cold air, we find ourselves in the relationship too, facing monstrosity starring back, looking for a mate. Invited to experience becoming-monster as we get to exercise our norms as thinkers, analysts, readers, students of organizations, Thanem makes a case for the socio-corporeal ontology of organization. Helping us learn how our assumptions shape our expectations of what to expect from working in and engaging with organizations and organization studies, the cold air we have inhaled leaves us, without surprise, as a warm, embracive breath. Disassembled by the generosity of the multitude (as made specific by Thanem), we are provided with an opportunity to learn to know our own particular heterogeneity, our styles of assembling ourselves to what we have become. Becoming is thereby learnt. Important lessons, both for analysts and practitioners of organizations.' --- Daniel Hjorth, Copenhagen Business School, Denmark

Author Information

Torkild Thanem, Associate Professor in Organization Theory, Stockholm University School of Business, Sweden

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