Organising modes of law firms

Abstract

This thesis examines why law firms are organised as they are. It develops a theoretical framework of reflexive archetype theory which is constructed from structuring theory (Ranson, Hinings and Greenwood 1980), archetype theory (Hinings and Greenwood 1988), and circuits of power theory (Clegg 1989). It emphasises the reflexivity and integration of the process of organising within law firms. Empirical data are collected from fifteen Sydney law firms and interpreted within reflexive archetype theory. These data confirm the reflexivity and integration of elements within law firms that are theoretically postulated. A research agenda is developed and the contributions of the thesis to the field of organisational analysis are enumerated.

Date of Award	1998
Original language	English