THE SOCIAL ACTORS LASSITUDE

On the basis of innovations observed in companies and services, an ori ginal view is presented of actors in firms. This view does not necessa rily contradict classical approaches nor the sociology of organization s. It can be used to look into the interfaces between these approaches . Any innovation open a new space of interactions due to the uncertain ty it bears with it, but it also sheds light on the actor's ambivalenc e and the complexity of his ''rationality''. Innovation has a cost in terms of cognitive investment, intense involvement, anxiety, risks, co mmitments, self=imposed overwork, etc. The actor may prefer exiting fr om the system in order to find a ''role'' or ''function'' sheltered fr om this chaos. The many perspectives thus opened on innovative organiz ations is relevant to current debates about the costs of liberalism an d bureaucracy.