John Van Maanen
Encyclopedia
John Van Maanen is an organization theorist, best known for his contributions to qualitative studies in management
and to organizational ethnography
.
At present, he is Erwin Schell Professor
of Organization Studies at the MIT Sloan School of Management
. His studies included longitudinal researches
of police
men, fishermen, Disneyland operators, and London
detective
s.
His publications include also methodological studies on writing organizational ethnographies and on power relations in workplace. His Tales of the Field on Writing Ethnography (University of Chicago
Press, 1988) became a classic reading in many doctoral programs in management
around the world. His other contributions include studies of high tech
industries.
Management
Management in all business and organizational activities is the act of getting people together to accomplish desired goals and objectives using available resources efficiently and effectively...
and to organizational ethnography
Ethnography
Ethnography is a qualitative method aimed to learn and understand cultural phenomena which reflect the knowledge and system of meanings guiding the life of a cultural group...
.
At present, he is Erwin Schell Professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of Organization Studies at the MIT Sloan School of Management
MIT Sloan School of Management
The MIT Sloan School of Management is the business school of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, in Cambridge, Massachusetts....
. His studies included longitudinal researches
Longitudinal study
A longitudinal study is a correlational research study that involves repeated observations of the same variables over long periods of time — often many decades. It is a type of observational study. Longitudinal studies are often used in psychology to study developmental trends across the...
of police
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
men, fishermen, Disneyland operators, and London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
detective
Detective
A detective is an investigator, either a member of a police agency or a private person. The latter may be known as private investigators or "private eyes"...
s.
His publications include also methodological studies on writing organizational ethnographies and on power relations in workplace. His Tales of the Field on Writing Ethnography (University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
Press, 1988) became a classic reading in many doctoral programs in management
Management
Management in all business and organizational activities is the act of getting people together to accomplish desired goals and objectives using available resources efficiently and effectively...
around the world. His other contributions include studies of high tech
High tech
High tech is technology that is at the cutting edge: the most advanced technology currently available. It is often used in reference to micro-electronics, rather than other technologies. The adjective form is hyphenated: high-tech or high-technology...
industries.