Anthony Giddens' Structuration Theory is one of a set of grand social theories that are capable of describing the very foundation of social systems: these include teams, organizations, and society as a whole. One of the key characteristics of Giddens's theory is the understanding of structure as duality: On the one hand, structures of social systems such as norms, symbols, and physical objects etc. enable social practices. On the other hand, these very structures are reproduced by agents and thus are also result of social practices. This understanding opens up a variety of new perspectives for managing organizations. In this blog post we have a look at some of those perspectives, such as Strategy as Practice, and derive key take-aways for managers and working professionals.
From a practitioner’s point of view, academic disciplines especially from the social sciences may at first sight not seem relevant to the daily practice of administering and leading a firm. However, the field of sociology (or the study of society, social institutions and social relationships) is extremely influential and useful for business management.
