TY - JOUR

T1 - Business history and the historiographical operation

AU - Taylor, S

AU - Bell, E

AU - Cooke, B

PY - 2009

Y1 - 2009

N2 - In this article we explore the implications of the epistemological position taken by writers of business history through a critical hermeneutic reading of recent key statements within this field. Using the theoretical lens provided by Ricoeur in Memory, History, Forgetting, we concentrate on the potentially reflexive nature of the historiographical operation that is involved in transforming memory into history. We argue that there is little sign of reflexive historiography within business history and suggest that this reluctance goes some way towards explaining the sub-discipline's relative isolation from the rest of organization and management studies.

AB - In this article we explore the implications of the epistemological position taken by writers of business history through a critical hermeneutic reading of recent key statements within this field. Using the theoretical lens provided by Ricoeur in Memory, History, Forgetting, we concentrate on the potentially reflexive nature of the historiographical operation that is involved in transforming memory into history. We argue that there is little sign of reflexive historiography within business history and suggest that this reluctance goes some way towards explaining the sub-discipline's relative isolation from the rest of organization and management studies.

KW - business history

KW - epistemology

KW - historiography

KW - Ricoeur

KW - reflexivity

U2 - 10.1177/1744935909102906

DO - 10.1177/1744935909102906

M3 - Journal article

VL - 4

SP - 151

EP - 166

JO - Management and Organizational History

JF - Management and Organizational History

SN - 1744-9359

IS - 2

ER -