Powered by OpenAIRE graph
Found an issue? Give us feedback
image/svg+xml art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina, Beao, JakobVoss, and AnonMoos Open Access logo, converted into svg, designed by PLoS. This version with transparent background. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Open_Access_logo_PLoS_white.svg art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina, Beao, JakobVoss, and AnonMoos http://www.plos.org/ Sociology Compassarrow_drop_down
image/svg+xml art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina, Beao, JakobVoss, and AnonMoos Open Access logo, converted into svg, designed by PLoS. This version with transparent background. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Open_Access_logo_PLoS_white.svg art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina, Beao, JakobVoss, and AnonMoos http://www.plos.org/
Sociology Compass
Article . 2025 . Peer-reviewed
License: CC BY NC
Data sources: Crossref
addClaim

Toward New Organizational Sociology of Quantification: From Interlopers to Plurality and Contestation

Authors: Hyunsik Chun; Joonwoo Son;

Toward New Organizational Sociology of Quantification: From Interlopers to Plurality and Contestation

Abstract

ABSTRACT Sociologists examine various forms of quantification and their consequences. In organizational sociology, the interloper perspective represents the dominant view on quantification, conceptualizing it as a new field actor that creates commercial opportunities through the institutionalization of quantification mechanisms and generates changes in institutions and organizations. After defining the interloper perspective and demonstrating its applications in organizational sociology, we discuss the assumptions and limitations of this perspective in understanding quantification processes. We then identify three mechanisms that contribute to the institutionalization of quantification in organizational research. Next, we present four alternative approaches to studying quantification drawn from political and economic sociology. We argue that organizational sociology of quantification can benefit from these alternatives by generating new theoretical questions about quantification processes and their impact on institutions: quantification is an interactive process that must address the demands of those being quantified; the production of quantification creates uncertainties as problems of cooperation and coordination emerge; the success of quantification depends on material mechanisms such as quantification devices; and social relations and collective action can increase plurality and diversity in the outcomes of quantification processes. Finally, we discuss how these new theoretical puzzles can be explored using theories of organizations and institutions.

Related Organizations
  • BIP!
    Impact byBIP!
    selected citations
    These citations are derived from selected sources.
    This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
    0
    popularity
    This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
    Average
    influence
    This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
    Average
    impulse
    This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
    Average
Powered by OpenAIRE graph
Found an issue? Give us feedback
selected citations
These citations are derived from selected sources.
This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Citations provided by BIP!
popularity
This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Popularity provided by BIP!
influence
This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Influence provided by BIP!
impulse
This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Impulse provided by BIP!
0
Average
Average
Average
hybrid