Universalist, local and glocal perspectives on management learning
One relatively common assumption in theories about management education, management learning, organizational learning and knowledge management is the universalist assumption, i.e. that these theories are general and thus applicable all around the world. Another assumption that has become rather common in the management area, is the so called translation perspective, i.e. that ideas change when they travel in time and space. Some even claim that ideas are implied differently in different organizations, and that their application is inevitably 'global;' i.e., a blend of the local and the global.
The theories about management education, management learning, organizational learning and knowledge management, which we produce and develop - are they general or are they applied differently at different places, organizations and universities around the world? Is there any use for general theories, so called 'etic' theories, or should we instead try to develop local, culture-specific theories, so called 'emic' theories? Is it better to have general theories that everyone can translate to their specific conditions, or to have theories that are contextual and suitable for the specific situation? Or should we start to develop general theories drawing out cultural differences in the management learning area, i.e. what Hofstede has done in the cultural area? Is there any need for universalist theory, or should we instead develop local theories, based on the notion of 'cultural relativism'? Or should we, perhaps, accept the de-coupling between and simultaneous use of global concepts and local practice? A kind of 'glocalization', or absorption of global ideas into local contexts while honouring core features of the host culture, might be deliberately attempted.
We welcome papers from a wide range of disciplines, that in one way or another has something to add to this debate. For instance:
- papers that argue for the need for general theories in the management learning area;
- are there basic concepts in the management learning area that are so powerful that they have universal application? (e.g. 'community/communities of practice', 'organizational learning', 'MBA');
- local translations of universalist concepts such as management education, management learning, organizational learning and knowledge management;
- case studies that show how any theory on management education, management learning, organizational learning or knowledge management, has been adapted to local conditions;
- in terms of theories about organizational learning/learning organization to what extent do theories/approaches that are (supposedly) popular in the USA, such as those of Senge, need modification when applied overseas?
- case studies that show the impossibility of applying general theories in the management learning field - for example, regarding international management education, what is the experience of management educators operating in non-Anglo-Saxon cultures in relation to the use of standard management textbooks, perhaps with Western authors;
- personal experiences from management educators who have been operating overseas (and perhaps have returned home);
- experiences from projects in the management learning area in which people from different cultures have been participating, such as in international management education;
- comparisons between different cultures, regarding concepts and/or practice in the management learning area;
- examples of emic and etic theories, respectively, in the management learning area;
- whether the concept of 'situated theory' in itself is a general, universalist concept;
- examples of de-coupling between global theory and local practice, in the management learning area;
- the concept of glocalization applied to theories in the management learning area.
Papers submitted for this stream should be in this general domain. Please note that your paper is being submitted to this special stream clearly on your cover page and submit your abstract/paper in the regular way. The conference will offer a separate session on this topic. This stream will be linked the call for papers for a special issue of Management Learning Journal.
Organizers:
Devi Akella (dakella@hotmail.com)
Anders Ortenblad (andersortenblad@yahoo.com)
Manuela Perrotta (manuela.perrotta@soc.unitn.it)
Robin Snell (robin@ln.edu.hk)
Please direct all questions regarding this special stream to the Dram Group (dramgroup@yahoo.com)