The Usefulness of Myth and the Myth of Usefulness: A Dilemma for the Applied Organizational Scientist

1 April 1985

journal article
Published by SAGE Publications in Journal of Management

Vol. 11 (1) , 31-42
https://doi.org/10.1177/014920638501100104

Abstract

The existential psychology of Ernest Becker (1971, 1973, 1975) is used to argue that organizations exist to provide a framework of myth which makes action possible. What they see as "useful" consists in furtherance of the myth. But knowledge about organizations requires seeing the myth as a myth: demythologizing. This poses a dilemma for the applied organizational scientist.

Keywords

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