Workshop Invitation
\nThe \u201cBetrieb\u201d (organization, firm, establishment, \u2026) as corporate actor \u2013 a
\ntheoretical and empirical challenge
\nApril 29-30, 2021
\nNot only the traditional economic theory of the firm, but also the sociological and business theories
\nof organization refer to the \u2018Betrieb\u2019 as a corporate actor. This is a simplistic assumption that is often
\njustified \u2013 also against better knowledge e.g. in old and new institutionalist organization theory,
\ncontract or decision theory perspectives or even systems theory approaches \u2013 with regard to
\nempirical research. The simplification is strengthened further by the assumption that corporate
\nactors \u2013 like individual actors \u2013 pursue goals, develop strategies and \u2013 like persons \u2013 have attitudes
\nand opinions.
\nTo illustrate this with an example: In Germany, not only corporations but also establishments act as
\nlegal entities. German collective labor law operates on the level of establishments where works
\ncouncils are elected and co-determination takes place. Accordingly, the central subject-matter of the
\nfield of Business Administration is defined as the \u201cBetrieb\u201d (the establishment) as a corporate actor.
\nOne particular challenge of empirical research is to delimit its survey units. While the idea of firms
\nand organizations as corporate actors is used internationally, empirical investigations fall back on
\nlegal concepts such as firm, establishment or employer, which are neither uniformly defined beyond
\nnational legal classifications nor identical with organizational theory categories. Thus defining the
\n\u2018Betrieb\u2019 as corporate actor constitutes both an empirical and theoretical challenge involving
\neconomic, business, sociological and also judicial theories.
\nWith our workshop \u201cThe \u2018Betrieb\u2019 (the Establishment) as Corporate Actor \u2013 Theoretical and Empirical
\nChallenges\u201d, we aim to discuss and partially answer the following questions and share ideas and
\nconcepts on how to treat these problems in our research. The notion of corporate actor appeals to
\n(a) the sociological and political analysis of organizations, (b) the concept of the legal person\u2019s rights
\nto make decisions and take action, (c) the normative problem of whether establishments should be
\nseen as ends from a welfare-economic perspective or merely as means of individual actors, and (d)
\nthe methodological need to differentiate between the unit of analysis and the survey unit.
\nIn order to explore the subject further and to disentangle the various meanings which the notion of
\n\u201ccorporate actor\u201d takes on, we will discuss the following questions (not a comprehensive list) from a
\ntheoretical as well as a methodological perspective:
\n1. Visibility and appearance
\nHow does an organization become (in)visible as a corporate actor? When do we indeed
\nobserve a corporate actor and corporate actions and decision results, and when do we only
\nmonitor individual actors but mistakenly interpret their opinions, attitudes and stance as
\nthat of corporate actors?
\n2. Decision-making
\nHow do corporate actors decide and form preferences? What do we know about the
\ndecision-making processes and their results that makes us confident enough to talk and
\nthink of corporate actors as homogeneous decision units? How do we get valid information
\nthat reflect corporate decisions?
\n3. Internal structures
\nWhat elements of the internal structure of the corporate actor \u2013 for example with regard to
\nformal work teams, informal teams, social groups, hierarchical levels, to algorithms and AI,
\nto stewards and agents, to actors in industrial relations and collective labor law \u2013 are
\nimportant for our decisions how to treat corporate actors in research? Which theories may
\nbridge the gap between individual and collective actors? Which elements of these theories
\nmay help us to better inform our empirical research related to corporate actors?
\n4. Accounting and responsibilities
\nOn what basis can actions and results of actions be attributed to corporate actors? What
\npossibilities are associated with this for the internal and external control of organizations and
\nthe rules for the distribution of results of actions?
\n5. Erosion of corporate entities
\nWhat do we know about the erosion or invigoration of corporate actors? Digitalization and
\nglobalization have strengthened networks and dissolved boundaries of firms and
\nestablishments as well as hierarchies: What qualifies corporate actors in times of
\nboundaryless corporations?
\nAnswers to all these questions also have to be considered under the current conditions of the Covid-
\n19 pandemic. Acceptance and practice of home office and teleworking has increased, thereby
\nchanging the visibility and appearance of the organizations as well as decision-making processes and
\ninternal structures. While this seems to further contribute to the erosion of corporate entities, the
\ndependence on global value chains has been called into question.
\nWe plan to publish the workshop proceedings afterwards in an
\nedited Volume (Springer).
\nWenzel Matiaske & Dorothea Alewell,
\nResearch Consortium Labour Standards for Improved Well-being, Hamburg<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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