Organizing: how to study it and how to write about it

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to review emerging approaches to field studies of organizing that aim to avoid the problems of traditional methods and techniques. Design/methodology/approach – The paper is based in pragmatist philosophy and constructionist perspective. Within this frame, the paper starts with a brief history of fieldwork methods in organization study, continues by diagnosing their shortcomings in the light of contemporary developments, and ends by reviewing promising approaches to studying contemporary organizations. Findings – Young researchers are warned about possible risks and gains from experimenting with new methods. Originality/value – The potential value of the paper is in its function of a guide for organization scholars looking for innovative approaches to their study object.