Sociomateriality — Taking the wrong turning?

The claims for sociomateriality are reviewed and two key problems are isolated: a failure to be specific about technology and a neglect of broader social structures. These problems are located in the formulations of Barad. Her notion of agential realism is contrasted to an alternative perspective constructed using the resources of critical realism. The potential of the latter to contribute to the refreshing of the socio-technical tradition is outlined. This tradition offers more resources for the consideration of the important role of the material in contemporary organizing than sociomateriality, which is argued to be a wrong turning.

► The concept of sociomateriality is critiqued from the perspective of critical realism.
► Problems are found not just in application but with foundational concepts.
► Failure to be specific about technology and a neglect of social structure.
► Critical realism enables consideration of material properties.
► These are set in the context of broader structures.