Phenomenology and the reflective practitioner

This article asks in what sense phenomenology could contribute to reflectio n as part of organizational practice. It discusses Berger and Luckmann's vi ew of the role of language in reality construction and, in reaction, argues that Husserl's method of phenomenological clarification is helpful in orde r to find proper, valid concepts for dealing with practical organizational affairs. The value of clarification is illustrated by the case of the 'pati ent as customer' and by discussing Schon's idea of the reflective practitio ner.