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The performance of authority in organizations: an example from management consulting

Author

Listed:
  • Alaric Bourgoin

    (Centre de Sociologie de l'Innovation, Mines ParisTech)

  • Nicolas Bencherki

    (Polytechnic Institute of New York University)

Abstract

Sketches a pragmatist model of authority by studying the case of a consultant faced with the issue of establishing his authority in the actual context of a consulting assignment, and showing how the consultant invokes various “figures” that lend weight to his actions.

Suggested Citation

  • Alaric Bourgoin & Nicolas Bencherki, 2013. "The performance of authority in organizations: an example from management consulting," CSI Working Papers Series 029, Centre de Sociologie de l'Innovation (CSI), Mines ParisTech.
    • Handle: RePEc:emn:wpaper:029
    as

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    File URL: http://www.csi.mines-paristech.fr/working-papers/DLWP.php?wp=WP_CSI_029.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Bradley G. Jackson, 1996. "Re‐Engineering the Sense of Self: the Manager and the Management Guru," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(5), pages 571-590, September.
    2. Aghion, Philippe & Tirole, Jean, 1997. "Formal and Real Authority in Organizations," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 105(1), pages 1-29, February.
    3. Marcie J. Tyre & Eric von Hippel, 1997. "The Situated Nature of Adaptive Learning in Organizations," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 8(1), pages 71-83, February.
    4. repec:ner:ucllon:http://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/17678/ is not listed on IDEAS
    5. Bergström, Ola & Hasselbladh, Hans & Kärreman, Dan, 2009. "Organizing disciplinary power in a knowledge organization," Scandinavian Journal of Management, Elsevier, vol. 25(2), pages 178-190, June.
    6. Wouter Dessein, 2002. "Authority and Communication in Organizations," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 69(4), pages 811-838.
    7. Grossman, Sanford J & Hart, Oliver D, 1983. "An Analysis of the Principal-Agent Problem," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 51(1), pages 7-45, January.
    8. Baker, George & Gibbons, Robert & Murphy, Kevin J, 1999. "Informal Authority in Organizations," The Journal of Law, Economics, and Organization, Oxford University Press, vol. 15(1), pages 56-73, April.
    9. Fabian Muniesa & Yuval Millo & Michel Callon, 2007. "An introduction to market devices," Post-Print halshs-00177928, HAL.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    authority; boundaries; consultancy; ethnography; client relationship;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • M14 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - Corporate Culture; Diversity; Social Responsibility
    • M42 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Accounting - - - Auditing

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