The object object in organizational analysis: actor-network theory as a analytic method about the participation of non-humans in organizing

Abstract

Departing from a post-humanist perspective (Actor-Network Theory), this paper seeks to analyze objects and non-humans as constituent agents of organizing. Given the increasing influence of post-humanist perspectives in social sciences, and more specifically in organizational analyses, we develop the idea about the application of ANT symmetry notion as a key resource to analyze organizational practices. We try to articulate the symmetry notion with considerations about social practices in order to stress the role of objects and non-humans in organizing. Besides that, we present and discuss some empirical studies developed in this direction as well as highlight some empirical investigation possibilities. We conclude that by taken into account the role played by non-humans and objects it is possible to open new insights in the analysis of social practices. We also highlight that the main challenge is to produce a method that can analyze such processes without relying on humans as central actors.