Ursula Plesner - Böcker

This volume presents a wide range of methodological strategies that are designed to take into account the complex, emergent, and continually shifting character of virtual worlds. It interrogates how virtual worlds emerge as objects of study through the development and application of various methodological strategies. Virtual worlds are not considered objects that exist as entities with fixed attributes independent of our continuous engagement with them and interpretation of them. Instead, they are conceived of as complex ensembles of technology, humans, symbols, discourses, and economic structures, ensembles that emerge in ongoing practices and specific situations.A broad spectrum of perspectives and methodologies is presented: Actor-Network-Theory and post-Actor-Network-Theory, performativity theory, ethnography, discourse analysis, Sense-Making Methodology, visual ethnography, multi-sited ethnography, and Social Network Analysis.

This important new textbook offers a lively and topical discussion of how digital technologies impact various aspects of organizations, such as structure, knowledge, collaboration, communication, identity, legitimacy and power. Taking a critical and nuanced approach, this engaging textbook introduces readers to central themes in organization studies and reflects on how changes brought about by digitalization have important implications for private, public and voluntary organizations, and on practical disciplines such as strategy, management, innovation and entrepreneurship. Contemporary case studies drawn from a wide range of international organizations demonstrate the real-world relationship between digital technologies and organizing. This is an essential textbook for final year undergraduates, postgraduates and MBA students taking a module in technology and organization. It is also suitable for any student of organizational studies wanting to understand more about the role that the digital plays in contemporary organizing.