Pinpointing the deeper structures, processes and mechanisms of change within interactional fields

This paper seeks to understand how we might identify the “underlying logics” and “deeper structures” that bring about change in phenomena. We argue that this represents a move from a classical perspective focusing on discrete exchange, and that this requires a processual or relational approach to understanding in contrast to a substantialist or variables-based approach. One way of advancing our understanding of the emergence of change is to consider the site of interaction. That is the interactional field where actors act and interact with other actors and entities as well as the broader environment; where resources are exchanged, imported or exported; where change is instigated and transferred across time and space. We suggest interactional fields are the sites of plasticity where change actually takes place. To understand the causal structure and processes taking place in an interactional field we draw on the concept of natural and social kinds. We discuss how interactional fields are located in time and space, which influence and are influenced by the trajectories of change and development. While we believe this applies to change in general we apply our thinking to organizational change.

摘要本文探索如何识别“潜在逻辑”和“深层结构”现象带来的变化。我们探讨这种代表从关注互不关联的交流的经典观点的转移情况, 以及这种情况要求一种过程性或相关性的理解方法与基于实质或变量的方法的对比。提高对发生的变化的理解就要考虑相互作用的场所。也就是相互作用的领域, 主体举动并与其它主体、实体和更广阔的环境互动; 资源的被交换; 进口或出口; 在时空之间发生和转换的变革。我们提出相互作用的领域应该是实际发生变革的可塑场所。我们利用自然和社会类观点, 来了解在相互作用领域发生的因果结构和过程。我们探讨相互作用领域所位于的时空, 而该时空影响变革和发展轨迹并被其影响。尽管我们认为这种情况适用一般性变革, 但是, 在本文我们只将我们的想法应用于机构变革上。