Alternative Theories of the Firm

Cover
Half Title
Series Information
Title Page
Copyright Page
Table of Contents
About the Contributors
Introduction: Alternative Theories of the Firm
	Overview
	Background
	Contributions
	Notes
	References
1 From the Theory of the Firm to a Theory of the Community
	Anatomy of a Potentially Terminal Crisis
	Imperial Civilization’s Final Days
	Misdirected By Flawed Theory Posing as Science
	Toward a Theory of Community
	Purpose, Power, and Procreation
	Finding Our Way to an Ecological Civilization
2 A Note On Alternative “Theories of the Firm”
	The Current Inventory of ToFs
	Nonzero Transaction Costs
	Institutionalism
	Knightian Uncertainty
	A Language-Based ToF
	Service
	What Is “The Firm”?
	Concluding Comments
	Bibliography
3 A Rightholding Perspective On the Firm and Principled Governance: 10 Memos
	Legal Entity
	‘Societas’
	Responsibility
	Public Interest
	Thirdness
	Constitutionality
	Democracy
	Knowledgeability
	Multiplicity
	(Free) Purposefulness
	References
4 Theories of the Firm: The Logic of Multiple Criteria for Assessing Outcomes
	Introduction
	Research Background
		Capitalist and Socialist Economies
		The Economic Performance Approach
		The Responsibility Approach
	The Economic Family of Theories
	One Objective Versus Two Or More Objectives
	Multiple Criteria for Assessment
		Alternatives to the Profit-Maximizing Approach
		Alternative Relationships of Business and Society
		A Critique of Korten’s Approach for Humanistic Management
	An Alternative Multiple-Criteria Theory of the Firm
	Conclusion
	References
5 Qualitative Growth: An Alternative to Solely Quantitatively-Oriented Theories of Firm Growth
	Introduction
	Quantitative Growth
	Qualitative Growth
	An Integrative Framework of Firm Growth
	Discussion and Conclusion
	References
6 What Are Corporations For?: Contemporary Capitalism, Authority, and a Communicative Theory of the Firm
	Value Production Via Communicative Capitalism
		Branding
		Dispersed Production
	A Communicative Theory of the Firm
		Communication as Constitutive of Organization
		Performativity and Agencement
		Authoritative Texts
		Communication as Writing the Trajectory of Practice
	Producing What Corporations Are For: Two Themes Toward an Agenda
		Charismatic Authority and Corporate Personhood
		Activism and Algorithms
		Summary
	Conclusion
	Notes
	References
7 Toward a “We”-Mode Team Production Theory of the Firm: A Confucian Approach
	Background: The Rise, Fall, and Return of Hierarchy
	The Problem: Alchian and Demsetz’s Rut
	A Solution: A Confucian “We”-Mode Team Production
	How to Facilitate “We”-Mode Team Production: A Confucian Answer
	Contemporary Research That Supports the Confucian “We”-Mode
	Limitations
	Conclusion: Toward a “We”-Mode Team Production Theory of the Firm
	Acknowledgments
	Notes
	References
8 Strengthening Theory Through Isolation and Subsequent Confrontation: The Case of French Convention Theory
	Background
	French Convention Theory
		Foundations of French Convention Theory
		Orders of Worth and the Plurality of Coordination Modes
		Justifying a Particular Mode for Coordinating Action
		Organizations as Compromise Mechanisms
		Convention Theory and Markets
		How Permanent Are Conventions?
		Organizational Research On Conventions
	Potential Contributions to Anglophone Organization Theory
		Institutional Theory
		Stakeholder Theory
		Other Potential Contributions
		Limitations of French Convention Theory
	Conclusion
	References
9 What It Means to Be Truly Human in Organizations: Martin Buber’s Concept of I-Thou Relations
	Between the I-It and the I-Thou
	Applying Buber’s Framework to Social Life in Organizations
	Toward a Language of Being in Business
	Being a Person
	Being a Community
	Person, Community, and the Logic of Gift
	Conclusion
	Notes
	References
10 Business for Peace: A New Paradigm for the Theory of the Firm
	Introduction
	What Is Business?
	What Is Peace? And Why Should We Be Talking About It?
	General Principles for a New Theory of the Firm: Toward a Business Peace Index
		A) Purpose
		B) Mindset
		C) Products/Services
		D) Ethics
		E) Stakeholders
		F) Social Development
		G) Adherence to a New Paradigm
		H) Corporate Leadership for Peace
		Summary of General Principles for a Business Peace Index
	Concluding Remarks
	Notes
	References
11 Lessons From Indigenous Social Enterprises: An Alternative Management Model?
	Introduction
	Indigenous Entrepreneurship and Indigenous Enterprises
	Social Entrepreneurship
	Methodology
	Discussion
	Ontological Dimension
		Common Good
		Sustainability
	Epistemological Dimension
		Phenomenological Approach
		Humanistic Management
		Stakeholder Theory
	Axiological Dimension
		Holistic Worldview
		Dignity
		Equity
		Equality
		Legitimacy
		Accountability
		Participation
		Self-Determination
	Praxiological Dimension
		Governance
		Social
		Economic
		Environment
	New Management Model Based On Indigenous Social Enterprises
	Conclusions
	Notes
	References
12 Toward a Humanistic Theory of the Firm: An Analysis of the Mondragon-Based Participative Model
	Introduction
	Main Features of the Inclusive-Participative Model (IPM)
	IPM: Instrumental Or Alternative Model?
	Conclusions
	Limits and Future Lines of Research
	Notes
	Bibliography
13 How Human and Organizational Relationships Can Be Explained By Natural Science
	Introduction
	How TBA Subsumes and Extends
		Alternative Approaches
	The Natural Laws of Governance
		Cybernetic Laws
		Division of Powers to Create Network Governance
	Utility of TBA for Investigating Network Governance
	Concluding Remarks
		Self-Regulation and Self-Governance
		Wider Implications of TBA
	Note
	References
14 Capitalism as a Continuum: A Bioinspired Narrative Framework to Assess Four Functions of the Firm
	The Economistic Narrative: The Theory of the Firm
	A New Narrative Inspired By Nature
	Thermodynamics, Ecology, and Energy Exchange as Drivers of Organizational Formation
	Capitalism as a Continuum: Exchange as Four Functions of the Firm
	Methodology
	Thematic Categories
	Provisioning
	Supporting
	Regulating
	Cultural
	Contributions, Limitations, and Implications for Practice
	References
Index