Zooming in and out : studying practices by switching theoretical lenses and trailing connections
Nicolini, Davide (2009) Zooming in and out : studying practices by switching theoretical lenses and trailing connections. Organization Studies, Vol.30 (No.12). pp. 1391-1418. ISSN 0170-8406 Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0170840609349875 AbstractThis paper contributes to re-specifying a number of the phenomena of interest to
organisational studies in terms of patterns of socio-material practices and their effects. It does
so by outlining a vocabulary and strategy that make up a framework for theorising work and
organisational practices. The vocabulary is based on number of sensitising concepts that
connote practice as an open-ended, heterogeneous accomplishment which takes place within
a specific horizon of sense and a set of concerns which the practice itself brings to bear. The
strategy is based on the metaphorical movement of "zooming in" and "zooming out of"
practice. The zooming in and out are obtained through switching theoretical lenses and repositioning
in the field, so that certain aspects of the practice are fore-grounded while others
are bracketed.
Building on the results of an extended study of telemedicine, the paper discusses in detail the
different elements of the framework and how it enhances our capacity to re-present practice.
The paper concludes with some considerations on how the proposed approach can assist us in
advancing the research agenda of organizational and work studies. | Item Type: | Journal Article |
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| Subjects: | H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor |
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| Divisions: | Faculty of Social Sciences > Warwick Business School > Innovation, Knowledge & Organisational Networks Research Unit
Faculty of Social Sciences > Warwick Business School > Industrial Relations & Organisational Behaviour
Faculty of Social Sciences > Warwick Business School |
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| Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): | Organizational behavior, Work environment, Telecommunication in medicine |
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| Journal or Publication Title: | Organization Studies |
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| Publisher: | Sage Publications Ltd. |
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| ISSN: | 0170-8406 |
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| Date: | December 2009 |
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| Volume: | Vol.30 |
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| Number: | No.12 |
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| Number of Pages: | 28 |
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| Page Range: | pp. 1391-1418 |
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| Status: | Peer Reviewed |
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| Publication Status: | Published |
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| Access rights to Published version: | Restricted or Subscription Access |
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