Abstract
‘Perspectives’ is the title of a new feature in Organization Studies, the first of which is compiled and introduced by David Seidl and Richard Whittington, in this issue. ‘Perspectives’ is essentially a virtual special issue, but unlike other journals, we ask guest editors to compile them, and introduce their theme with an editorial essay. Guest editors investigate the archives of Organization Studies, looking for papers on a specific topic on which to base their essay. Both the essay and selected papers are made freely available as a download on the journal website, with the essay also being printed as part of a journal issue.
In the editorial essay, the genealogy of the theme is sketched out, building on previous papers in Organization Studies and other journals. Moreover, the guest editors provide their views on how the theme might be further developed, by identifying, contrasting or opposing lines of research. In this way the essay becomes an act of contention and critique as much as it is a summary and review, and it avoids reification and reverence. The editors’ views are informed by a proper understanding of the literature, yet remain subjective, and provocative; hence the name Perspectives.
We hope that the Perspectives feature will provide readers with an authoritative foray into a topic in which the journal has retained a longstanding interest, as well as prompting new lines of research.