Resumo

The Actor-Network Theory (ANT) represents a social theory that search to understand science and technology (Sismondo, 2010). Law, Callon, and Latour originally developed this theoretical framework. The ANT represents a perspective in which the construction of the reality is uncovered by practices and interactions of human and nonhuman actors. The analysis through the ANT does not begin from previously defined assumptions about the social phenomenon. The slogan of the ANT is “to follow the actors themselves”, but taking care to observe when they multiply or reduce actors (Latour, 2005, p. 12).

Research question: how the ANT has been performed in Management and organizational studies? To guide our actions to clarify this issue, we delimit as research objective: to map ANT uses in Management and Organization Studies (MOS), through a systematic review.

ANT offering a specific contribution to organizational theorizing (Calás and Smircich 1999). In the field of organizational studies, ANT has been used since the 1990 and gaining space as a clear research strategy for understanding organizations. The phenomena are socially constructed, so cannot be overlooked and yes explored and explained (Latour, 2005; Czarniawska, 2006). ANT has been published in periodicals in organizational sociology and organizational studies in Europe for several years but with this theory in organizational studies rare journals in the USA (Calás and Smirchich 1999).

The methodology consisted in the elaboration of a protocol for the conduct of the systematic review. The data gathered publications indexed ISI Web of Science® (Thomson Reuters), with articles from 1992 to 2016.

Results show an increasing trend of studies on the theme analyzed, highlighted by the year 2014Latour (1987) and Latour (2005) represented the major works cited. The three basic principles of ANT are still mentioned in the studies, although some work addresses at least an only one principle. The studies have also approached the ANT through integration or interaction with other approaches; other works explore the ANT as a critical theory; and also some articles have addressed the design ‘after-ANT’.

We observe that ANT represents an approach with applications and contributions of Management and Organization Studies. The ANT is a flexible approach with the potential to contribute to the understanding of organizations in a context in which contemporary technologies will gain more and more importance and use.

Alcadipani, R. and Hassard J. (2010). “Actor-Network Theory, organizations and critique: towards a politics of organizing”, Organization. Vol. 17 No. 4, pp. 419-435. Calas, M. B. and Smircich L. (1999). “Past postmodernism? Reflections and tentative directions”, Academy of management review. Vol. 24 No. 4, pp. 649-672. Czarniawska, B. (2009). “Emerging institutions: pyramids or anthills?”, Organization Studies. Vol. 30 No. 4, pp. 423-441. Latour, B. (2005). Reassembling the Social: An Introduction to Actor-Network-Theory. Oxford University Press, New York, NY.