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Work, Wealth, and Postmodernism

The Intellectual Conflict at the Heart of Business Endeavour

Palgrave Macmillan

Authors:

  • Challenges the postmodernism bent in management research and the failure of traditional business research disciplines to provide meaningful solutions to societal problems
  • Highlights the need for empirical research
  • Offers a return to modernism as an intellectual alternative to postmodernism

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Table of contents (9 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xxi
  2. Introduction

    • Bradley Bowden
    Pages 1-25
  3. Part I

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 27-30
    2. Economics and Modernity

      • Bradley Bowden
      Pages 65-99
    3. The Legitimacy of Modern Management

      • Bradley Bowden
      Pages 101-137
  4. Part II

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 139-141
    2. Structuralism and Postmodernism

      • Bradley Bowden
      Pages 143-162
    3. The Foundations of Postmodernism

      • Bradley Bowden
      Pages 163-199
    4. Postmodernism in Business Studies

      • Bradley Bowden
      Pages 201-252
  5. Part III

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 253-255
    2. Reflections

      • Bradley Bowden
      Pages 289-316
  6. Back Matter

    Pages 317-341

About this book

This work examines the rise of postmodernism in management scholarship and argues that the prevalence of postmodernist thought reflects a lack of understanding by management researchers of the core principles upon which Western business endeavour is based. The author highlights postmodernism’s methodological and conceptual failings, such as disbelief in material progress and economic advancement, and its denial of generalizable laws to direct management research. In its place, the author proposes a return to traditional modernist principles in management research, based on scientific evidence. This ground breaking, timely work will spark debate and challenge previously accepted claims of postmodernism, a nice retort to the anti-business/anti-capitalist literature now prevalent in academia.


Authors and Affiliations

  • Griffith University, Brisbane City, Australia

    Bradley Bowden

About the author

Bradley Bowden is Professor of Employment Relations at Griffith University, Australia. He is currently Executive Member and Past Chair of the Management History Division of the Academy of Management. He is also Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Management History. His past works include the edited collection, Management History: Its Global Past and Present.

Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: Work, Wealth, and Postmodernism

  • Book Subtitle: The Intellectual Conflict at the Heart of Business Endeavour

  • Authors: Bradley Bowden

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-76180-0

  • Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan Cham

  • eBook Packages: Business and Management, Business and Management (R0)

  • Copyright Information: The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s) 2018

  • Hardcover ISBN: 978-3-319-76179-4Published: 25 May 2018

  • Softcover ISBN: 978-3-030-09422-5Published: 21 December 2018

  • eBook ISBN: 978-3-319-76180-0Published: 12 May 2018

  • Edition Number: 1

  • Number of Pages: XXI, 341

  • Number of Illustrations: 42 b/w illustrations

  • Topics: Management, Labor History, Postmodern Philosophy, Organization

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 89.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 119.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access