Organisation Studies in Latin America. An analysis of the road travelled and prospects for development

Abstract

The field of Organization Studies (OS) in Latin America has experienced considerable development in recent years, especially since the publication of the Spanish translation of the book "The Sage Handbook of Organization Studies", entitled "Tratado de Estudios Organizacionales" in its two volumes (2017 and 2019). This editorial project was important in promoting an organized discourse and identity for OS in Latin America, allowing local researchers to generate their own voice in this field. This article seeks to diagnose the consolidation of OS in the region, based on three sources: the Handbook's published between 2017 and 2019, the special editions on OS from 2018, 2020, 2021, and 2023, and the first book edited by the Latin American Organizational Studies Network (REOL) entitled "In Search of Latin American Organizational Studies" (2024). The analysis begins with a brief history of EO academic networks in Latin America, which have been fundamental to the evolution of the field. Finally, it addresses critical themes and developments emerging from organizational studies in the region. It identifies the need for contextualized theoretical approaches that adequately reflect Latin American realities and highlights issues of diversity, leadership, organizational culture, gender equity, and innovation. In order to overcome the marginalization and nascent state of EO in some countries, the article proposes a research agenda that fosters collaboration, interdisciplinary training, and the application of knowledge in organizational practice, thus challenging the hegemonic narratives that predominate in academia.