From translation to enactment: contributions of the Actor-Network Theory to the processual approach to organizations

Abstract

In the area of Administration, especially in the Organizational Studies (OS), the Actor-Network Theory (ANT) has been regarded as part of a movement that aims to leave the functional emphasis of organization and pursue the study of process and practices of organizing - the processual approach to organizations. However, criticism to the ANT has led some authors to seek to overcome them through analytical twists concerning certain concepts. One of these "twists" involved the concept of translation and the inclusion of the concept of enactment . This article discusses both notions with the aid of two studies developed having these concepts as a basis, in order to indicate that the choice of enactment brings along a processual view different from that observed in translation. The concept of translation addresses the predominant and it emphasizes understanding how networks of relationships and objects become "stable"; in turn, enact works with multiplicity and fluidity, where the process takes precedence over things. Although the proposed term enactment does not seek to directly face all criticism, it contributes so that ANT does not take a neutral or mechanical view in its analyses and descriptions. Enactment has the view of organization as a result and product of continuous process and it allows understanding that this is not just working or not (success or failure), but it concerns the "production" of multiple realities when we conduct research in Administration having the processual approach to organizations as a basis.

David versus Goliath - The resistance of non-humans in the translation process: the case of the new coronavirus disinteressement

“…Finally, we believe that the new coronavirus case can mobilize organization studies for more processual and post-humanist perspectives (see Blok et al, 2020;Camillis & Antonello, 2016). In particular, by decentralizing the human and positioning it among multiple and heterogeneous actants, we can work on the non-human participation and the distributed agency (Rammert, 2012).…”

“…We elaborated on the following box (Box 1), the details of the data analyzed in this period: Based on the material gathered, the data analysis was conducted thematically and inductively (e.g., Alcouffe et al, 2008), in which the categories themselves emerge from the empirical data throughout the process. From the ANT, the flow of association (relations) is only traceable when it is in motion (Latour, 2005); therefore, the analytical focus is on transformation and not stability (Camillis & Antonello, 2016). Specifically, based on the translation perspective, we were particularly attentive (sensitive) in (i) understanding how leaders of the researched countries sought to speak on behalf of the new-coronavirus, (ii) perceiving the changes in posture and direction of human actors concerning the roles and behaviours previously enunciated (interested) to the non-human actant, (iii) understanding the dimension of action/participation of the new coronavirus to the detriment of the offensives in silencing it (speaking on its behalf).…”