Some Remarks on Theoretical Individualism, Alienation, and Work

Abstract

This paper offers some comments on the relationship between the “individualistic” bias in social scientific conceptions of human behavior and studies of work and organization. It is claimed that such bias suppresses the real nature of the work process which is “communicative” or dialectical and produces an “alienated” conception of social life. Two models of work -the rational and natural models, derived from the writings of Gouldner and Habermas - are then briefly discussed.