In this persuasively argued booklet, Barry Oshry establishes that,
despite frequent references to paradigms in management and organization
literature, there are no scientific paradigms in this field (as defined
by Thomas Kuhn in his landmark essay on the subject - The Structure of
Scientific Revolutions).
He goes on to make the case for the Organic System Framework (OSF) being
a legitimate candidate for paradigm status. The OSF describes patterns
of systemic relationship that exist at all levels and in all types of
social systems - family, sports team, work unit, etc. Regardless of our
designated roles or positions, we are constantly moving in and out of
these relationships.
He concludes by setting out three core reasons for proposing OSF as a
prime paradigm candidate and outlines five broad avenues for future
research.