Dear Kim and Robin,
I was surprised to find the term "re-entry" on the list. Taken as given
that you have Spencer Browns "laws of form" in mind I screened my books
for suggestions for you.
I don4t know how familiar you are with Niklas Luhmann, esp. his latest
works, who in my opinion, would be the primary source if you look for a
theoretical heavyweight. He turns and twists the re-entry of distinctions
and differences in their own forms wherever he can, but as far I can see,
he is not so much interested in the debate about learning and culture in
organizations.
Second source could be Theodor Bardmann and Dirk Baecker, also german
sociologists (and friends of Luhmann), who are more interested in
organizations (i.e. companies) in a practical sense, taking laws of form
as methodological basis. Their texts should be of high relevance for you
but I am not sure if their books are available in english. Here are the
german sources:
Baecker, D. (1993): Die Form des Unternehmens; Suhrkamp, Frankfurt 1993
[top source on theoretical modelling of the complex "organization" with
the help of the laws of form]
Bardmann, Th. et al. (1991): Irritation als Plan. Konstruktivistische
Einredungen; institut f|r Beratung und Supervision, Aachen 1991
Bardmann, Th. (1994): Wenn aus Arbeit Abfall wird. Aufbau und Abbau
organisatorischer Realitdten; Suhrkamp, Frankfurt/Main 1994
[esp. relevant for organizational sociology]
Bardmann, Th. (1997): Unterscheide! Konstruktivistische Perspektiven in
Theorie und Praxis; institut f|r Beratung und Supervision, Aachen 1997
[good and funny, about risk and (diabolical) communication in
organizations]
Bardmann, Th. (Ed. 1997): Zirkuldre Positionen. Konstruktivismus als
praktische Theorie; Westdt. Verl., Opladen 1997
[Interviews with Niklas Luhmann, Heinz von Foerster, Dirk Baecker,
Ranulph Glanville and others. First class and very funny as well!]
I hope this helps in your search. In return, could you please do me
favour and specify your project? It sounds very interesting.
I am asking because I currently work on the theoretical bases of
systemic consulting, combining observer theory, Luhmanns theory of
social systems and the instruments deriving from systemic family
therapy.
Could you therefore also please give information about english
literature you ran across about culture, re-entry and the laws of form?
Thank you very much, have fun with the books, hope you get them.
Greetings
Wolfgang Winter
University of the German Armed Forces, Munich
Centre for International Programs Peer Helpers wrote:
>
> Greetings. We are two University of Guelph (Canada) students currently
> working on a qualitative research project on re-entry and reverse
> culture-shock. We happened to fall upon this page, and we would like to
> know if anybody has any suggestions for us regarding this topic, and
> knowledge of any appropriate literature? At this time we are having
> difficulty finding appropriate literature and any help would be
> appreciated.
>
> Thank you in advance,
> Kim and Robyn
>
> kpurpura@uoguelph.ca
> rkeon@uoguelph.ca
--Wolfgang Winter <w81bwowi@unibw-muenchen.de>
Learning-org -- Hosted by Rick Karash <rkarash@karash.com> Public Dialog on Learning Organizations -- <http://www.learning-org.com>