Origins of Organizing

The origins of organizing are conventionally seen as emerging from the historiographical works of Western social scientists in the early 20th century. Here, the authors address a gap in current literature by exploring previously unrecognized or marginalized global origins in both modern and ancient history.

This innovative collection of original, research-based work covers a variety of historical epochs and theoretical streams from ancient civilizations to modern movements in philosophy and the social sciences. Among other topics, the chapters evaluate ideas of organizing by Quakers, 16th-century Jesuits and communities in the Roman Empire and ancient China. The authors creatively and insightfully engage with the historiography and philosophy of organizing, presenting alternatives to the dominant Western-focused development of organizational theory and practice.

Origins of Organizing is significant in expanding the field of organizational theory to incorporate key examples that move away from mainstream and traditional perspectives. It will serve as a complementary text for graduate students in the fields of organization theory, management history and critical management studies.