TY - JOUR

T1 - Metatheories in Management Studies

T2 - Reflections Upon Individualism, Holism and Systemism

AU - Reihlen, Markus

AU - Ringberg, Torsten

AU - Klaas-Wissing, Thorsten

PY - 2007/1/1

Y1 - 2007/1/1

N2 - Three metatheoretical positions, known as individualism, holism, and systemism, are salient in management research programs. The world views of individualism and holism in particular are a matter of controversy between social scientists, leading to serious shortcomings in the prevailing research programs. As we argue in this paper, neither view is adequate. A cogent alternative to both is systemism, which integrates the valuable insights of individualism and holism without their drawbacks. The paper illustrates the specific implications of each of these world views for knowledge management research.

AB - Three metatheoretical positions, known as individualism, holism, and systemism, are salient in management research programs. The world views of individualism and holism in particular are a matter of controversy between social scientists, leading to serious shortcomings in the prevailing research programs. As we argue in this paper, neither view is adequate. A cogent alternative to both is systemism, which integrates the valuable insights of individualism and holism without their drawbacks. The paper illustrates the specific implications of each of these world views for knowledge management research.

KW - Management studies

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=47249094396&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/52a98875-47a2-369f-807f-b8296078a329/

U2 - 10.3917/mana.103.0049

DO - 10.3917/mana.103.0049

M3 - Journal articles

VL - 10

SP - 49

EP - 69

JO - M@n@gement

JF - M@n@gement

SN - 1286-4892

IS - 3

ER -