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Marsden as organization theorist

Author

Listed:
  • Marc Salesina

Abstract

I argue that David Marsden, lauded in Employment Relations (ER) and Human Resource Management, deserves recognition as an organization theorist. Viewing his works as a unified theory, I demonstrate how his focus on the interaction between individual actions, institutions and organizational structures aligns with the fields core concerns. Further, I apply an organizational dialectics approach to his analysis of organizational tensions like managerial authority and diffusion of employment systems. This reinterpretation offers new insights into organizational structure and design and the importance of ER‐specific factors and processes in shaping them. It highlights the enduring value of Marsden's framework for understanding organizations.

Suggested Citation

  • Marc Salesina, 2025. "Marsden as organization theorist," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 63(1), pages 52-70, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:brjirl:v:63:y:2025:i:1:p:52-70
    DOI: 10.1111/bjir.12828
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. David Marsden, 2013. "Individual Voice in Employment Relationships: A Comparison under Different Forms of Workplace Representation," Industrial Relations: A Journal of Economy and Society, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 52, pages 221-258, January.
    2. anonymous, 2006. "Conference explores relationship of markets, institutions," Financial Update, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, vol. 19(Q 2).
    3. Siong Hook Law & Panicos Demetriades, 2005. "Openness, Institutions and Financial Development," Discussion Papers in Economics 05/8, Division of Economics, School of Business, University of Leicester.
    4. John Bellows & Edward Miguel, 2006. "War and Institutions: New Evidence from Sierra Leone," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 96(2), pages 394-399, May.
    5. David Marsden, 2004. "The ‘Network Economy’ and Models of the Employment Contract," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 42(4), pages 659-684, December.
    6. Ikujiro Nonaka & Ryoko Toyama, 2002. "A firm as a dialectical being: towards a dynamic theory of a firm," Industrial and Corporate Change, Oxford University Press and the Associazione ICC, vol. 11(5), pages 995-1009, November.
    7. Luis Ángel Velasteguí Martínez, 2006. "Instituciones y Crecimiento Económico," Observatorio de la Economía Latinoamericana, Servicios Académicos Intercontinentales SL. Hasta 31/12/2022, issue 69, Nobember.
    8. David Marsden & Richard Belfield, 2010. "Institutions and the Management of Human Resources: Incentive Pay Systems in France and Great Britain," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 48(2), pages 235-283, June.
    9. Richard Belfield & David Marsden, 2003. "Performance pay, monitoring environments, and establishment performance," International Journal of Manpower, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 24(4), pages 452-471, June.
    10. Allan P. O. Williams, 2006. "Institutional and Market Influences in the Development of Cass," Palgrave Macmillan Books, in: The Rise of Cass Business School, chapter 7, pages 95-111, Palgrave Macmillan.
    11. Panicos Demetriades & Siong Hook Law, 2006. "Finance, institutions and economic development," International Journal of Finance & Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 11(3), pages 245-260.
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