A Critical Framework for Organizational Analysis

Abstract

Some elements of a critical organization theory are outlined, and some basic features of theory in the Frankfurt tradition, in particular Marcuse's view on technological rationality, are discussed. This concept is central to the effort made in the paper to formulate a framework for critical analysis of industrial and other business organizations in late capitalist society. In this framework, an emancipatory rather than a technical-instrumental interest of knowledge is of fundamental importance. Six basic theses are elaborated concerning the relation between man, work, organization and ideology in advanced industrial society.