Oral Presentation by Mengyao (Angel) Yang¹, Alessia Contu²
¹ University of Massachusetts Boston, United States of America ² University of Massachusetts Boston, USA
TIME: Thursday, 16 July, 10:30 – 12:00
Location: Room 3
Session: 19
Abstract
This paper revisits a central debate in organizational democracy: how democratic enterprises can remain economically viable while preserving democratic member control. A review of the organizational degeneration literature reveals limited theorization that captures the processual and intertwined nature of practices shaping the viability of organizational democracy. Drawing on Koss Hartmann’s (2014) notion of subversive functionalism, we propose a systems analysis that mobilizes the functionalist and processual assumptions of Katz and Kahn’s (1966) open systems theory to examine the viability and degeneration of democratic member control. We illustrate this systems analysis with retention and degeneration examples from the existing literature, which reveal reinforcing mechanisms linking democratic participation and economic viability. Applying this analytical approach, we performatively reframe organizational democracy as a viable alternative that is continuously sustained through the ongoing enactment of democratic member control in day-to-day practices. Our paper contributes to current alternative organizations literature by bridging system concepts with critical management studies, challenging the myth that democratic member control is inherently inefficient and calling for knowledge production that is meaningful to practitioners.