Organizational Constitution of Communication: How a CCO-Specific Theory of Communication Could be Conceived, and How Gilbert Simondon May Help

• In Event: Constituting Organizations: Scholarship on CCO

Abstract

In this theoretical paper, I suggest that there is a need for a reflection on CCO’s assumptions regarding the theories of communication that underlie much of our research. In particular, I put forward that while we have been showing that communication constitutes organization – and thus studying organizations – we have not been as careful at studying communication and the way our interest for organizations may contribute to its understanding. I give the example of Simondon’s notion of transduction as a candidate theory of communication that is genuinely based on the equation between communication and organization in a constitutive view, i.e. it supposes that communicating and organizing are a single “ontogenetic” process. I conclude by inviting many more perspectives to be formulated, so that we, CCO researchers, explicate the sort of theories that inform our work and the way we may contribute to discussions about communication theory from a truly organizational perspective.

Author

• Nicolas Bencherki, University at Albany - SUNY