Introduction

The various aspects related to the organizational life and its environment (physical, social, or political) have always aroused a multitude of questions. To formulate answers, there have always been forms of theoretical reflection and reasoned attempts at experimentation. However, men have most often constructed their explanations on the basis of prejudices, religious faith, conjectures, cultural traditions, superstitions, intuitions, or common sense. While these explanations are certainly not irrelevant, there is no reason to estimate whether the claims that flow from them are well founded or not. Also, “scientific” research methods to gather verifiable facts, explain or objectively update concepts have gradually been put in place. These methods have given rise to a remarkable growth of knowledge in different spheres of knowledge. From the 16th century (especially with Francis Bacon) they were organized and framed by a set of norms and rules. Since then, scientific research has become the preferred way of developing knowledge…