Abstract:
This essay responds to John Miner’s (1984) assessment of the state of organizational science.
Slightly more than two decades ago, Miner found little evidence of a correlation
between organizational scholars’ ratings of the importance of a theory, its use, and its estimated
validity. In response, he suggested the need for organizational science to readjust
its goals, paradigms, and basic processes so that it develops as a discipline. Despite this
challenge, the intervening years have seen the field become seemingly more paradigmatically
fragmented, promoting discussion on its place in the social sciences. The essay presents
four reviews in response to what has followed since Miner’s original study. It offers
a judgment on Miner’s evaluation, a suggestion for the field’s development, a position
paper, and a response from Miner. Combined, the ensuing dialog offers practical suggestions
to the problem of a seemingly perennially emerging organizational science.
