The Meaning and Meaninglessness of Postmodernism: Some Ironic Remarks

This paper discusses the popularity of postmodernism in social and organiza tional studies. It is argued that the word conflates quite different social phe nomena and lines of development, and theoretical and philosophical positions. Framing issues in terms of modernism/postmodernism easily leads to insensit ive conceptualizations of the varied positions within what is dumped together as 'modernism'. 'Modernist' ideas about contemporary society and types of organizations encourage an oversensitivity for novelty. It is argued that many of the themes raised under the banner of postmodernism are worth taking seriously, but no effort should be taken to combine them under the same concept.