Purpose – Although it is commonly assumed that comparative studies are the best way to proceed in constructing theories of organizing, the practical fulfillment of this postulate has always been problematic. For example, anthropologists should have given organization theorists a clue long ago:...

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to understand the persistent ambiguity of socialization practices in US and Swedish organizations, which promote a mature work identity while infantilizing their employees. Design/methodology/approach – Application of the insights from modernist...

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to question the common conviction that responsibility is the major factor influencing performance. Design/methodology/approach – The paper takes the form of a comparison of two recent cases of ecological catastrophes. Findings – In emergency...