BUILDING THE TOWER-OF-BABEL - COMMUNITIES OF PRACTICE AND PARADIGMATIC PLURALISM IN ORGANIZATION STUDIES

In this paper, we argue that the work of Thomas Kuhn lends itself to t wo conflicting interpretations of the nature of scientific work, and t hat these have very different implications for debates on paradigmatic pluralism within organization studies. We begin by framing two ideal typical interpretations (a reductionist interpretation and an irreduct ionist interpretation) of the allegory of the Tower of Babel. We then explore in more depth the irreductionist interpretation of Kuhn that h as driven research in the social studies of science' over the last two decades. In line with irreductionist studies, we examine the concept of boundaries between scientific fields and between science and societ y and argue for a more fluid and dynamic conception than has been comm on in previous work. We suggest revisions of more traditional concepti ons of paradigm, incommensurability, and mature and immature science. We end by briefly discussing these issues in the context of the debate s on paradigmatic pluralism in organization theory and strategic manag ement.