The book systematizes the materiality concept, which has been fragmented
in various fields of business administration and sometimes identified
with interpretive postmodern business administration, along with the
meta-theories discussed in the humanities and social sciences that aim
to overcome humanistic dualism. This book is devoted to developing the
concept of materiality as the theoretical frontier that has not been
fully addressed in management studies, ranging from daily work practices
in office spaces to the manualization of high-tech aircraft maintenance,
to quantified personnel evaluations and fuel efficiency standards, to
innovation using advanced scientific equipment.
Institutional organization theory focuses on the material on which the
symbolism of institutions is inscribed. Organizational routine research
seeks to unravel the material dimension of organizational performative
practices. Organizational wrongdoing research critiques material
measurement practice based on social constructionism. Critical
management studies focus on the material space as a way to counter the
humanistic concept of time. Science-based innovation challenges
sociomaterialistic science practices that originate from devices for
management of technology (MOT) that have not been able to penetrate into
the workings of science and technology, actually. Up-and-coming
researchers in Japanese management studies conduct empirical research
that draws out the implications of the concept of materiality.